BARREL MSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Stratospheric Balloons

The BARREL mission conducted balloon campaigns from 2013 to 2016, launching over 50 payloads from Antarctica and Sweden. The dataset provides 48-channel, 4-second medium time resolution Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected by NaI scintillators, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV. It was collected by NASA to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts, augmenting the Van Allen Probes mission.

Use Cases

• Study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts based on X-ray spectra.
• Characterize the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on balloon array measurements.
• Analyze temporal variations of electron precipitation based on 4-second time resolution data.
• Correlate balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from other missions.

Strengths

• Provides measurements from over 50 stratospheric balloon launches across four campaigns.
• Offers 48-channel X-ray spectra with a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV.
• Data collection was coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground and space-based instruments.

Limitations

• 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

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:35:34.497681; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV in Antarctica, and Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden.