BARREL 2X Data Processing Unit (HKPG) Analog Housekeeping Voltage, Temperature, Current, a

BARREL 2X housekeeping data includes voltage, temperature, current, and payload status values recorded every 40 seconds. The dataset was produced by NASA's BARREL mission, which launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. The data provides instrument status monitoring for an array of balloons carrying X-ray spectrometers and magnetometers at altitudes near 30 km.

Use Cases

• Monitoring instrument health and performance based on voltage, temperature, and current readings.
• Correlating payload status with X-ray spectrometer and magnetometer measurements to study electron precipitation events.
• Analyzing temporal variations in housekeeping data across a slowly moving balloon array to understand spatial scales of phenomena.
• Validating and calibrating sensor readings by comparing nominal housekeeping layouts with specific payload configurations.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns spanning 2013 to 2016.
• Time-series data recorded at a consistent 40-second sampling interval.
• Mission was a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, designed to coordinate with the Van Allen Probes.

Limitations

• Analog sensor data is based on a nominal housekeeping layout; some payload differences may not be reflected.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Collected by instrument packages on small stratospheric balloons launched successively from Antarctic and Swedish bases.

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 12:34:38.214852; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV in Antarctica, and Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden; observations near polar circles at stratospheric altitudes.