BARREL XSPC: 30-Channel Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

BARREL 4D X-ray Spectrometer data provides 30 channels of fast time resolution (50 ms) Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra. The data was collected by NASA's BARREL mission using stratospheric balloons launched from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016) to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. Over 50 balloon flights were conducted across the four campaigns.

Use Cases

• Study spatial and temporal variations of electron precipitation based on multi-balloon constellation data.
• Characterize the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on balloon-borne X-ray measurements.
• Correlate X-ray spectra with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Analyze Bremsstrahlung X-ray production from precipitating electrons colliding with atmospheric neutrals.

Strengths

• Provides 30-channel spectral data with 50-millisecond time resolution.
• Data from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns (2013-2016).
• Coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space-based instruments.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Measurement altitude is not filtered and must be checked in a separate EPHM file.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 11:46:18.365873; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV, Antarctica, and Esrange Space Center, Kiruna, Sweden.