Cosmic Ray Energetics
And Mass

The Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass (CREAM) experiment consists of a series of long-duration balloon flights at very high altitudes (~40 km). CREAM is designed to explore the supernova acceleration limit of cosmic rays and the relativistic gas of protons, electrons and heavy nuclei arriving at Earth from outside the solar system. These flights also demonstrate the capabilities of the NASA Ultra-Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) support system. CREAM circumnavigated the south pole three times during the first flight, which set a flight duration record of 42 days. A cumulative duration of 70 days within 13 months was achieved when the second flight completed 28 days during two circumnavigations of the continent. CREAM is part of a larger program on Particle Astrophysics in the Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Physics.