BARREL 3E MSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Stratospheric Balloons

48 channels of medium time resolution, 4 s, Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV. The BARREL Mission was a NASA Living with a Star project, launching over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron precipitation from Earth's Radiation Belts. The data was collected in coordination with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground and space-based instruments.

Use Cases

• Studying electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts based on bremsstrahlung X-ray measurements
• Characterizing the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on balloon constellation data
• Analyzing temporal variations of electron precipitation based on 4-second time resolution spectra
• Correlating precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes

Strengths

• 48 spectral channels covering a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV
• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon flights across four campaigns
• Coordinated measurements with the Van Allen Probes mission and other 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

Balloon campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:34:02.623202; freshness should be verified

Geography

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