BARREL MSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

Four balloon campaigns conducted between 2013 and 2016 collected this data. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, measured bremsstrahlung X-rays from precipitating relativistic electrons using NaI scintillator spectrometers. Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched from Antarctic and Swedish stations, providing medium time resolution spectra.

Use Cases

• Study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts based on the mission's stated purpose
• Characterize spatial scales of relativistic electron precipitation based on the description
• Correlate precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements based on the comprehensive measurement context
• Analyze temporal variations of electron precipitation across magnetic local time based on the balloon array design

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon flights across four campaigns
• Provides the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation alongside comprehensive in-situ measurements
• 48-channel spectrometer covers a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV

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 carried on stratospheric balloons

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:30:07.091927; freshness should be verified

Geography

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