High Energy Cosmic Ray Measurements with CREAM

The Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass (CREAM) balloon program is a series of instruments for long duration high altitude balloon flights directed at measurements of high energy cosmic ray nuclei. The first instrument, CREAM-I, combined a transition radiation detector with a calorimeter and flew for a record 42 days around Antarctica in 2004/2005. CREAM-II carried a calorimeter and cherenkov counter and flew for 28 days in 2005/2006. This paper will discuss the scientific and technical aspects of these flights and present some early results. The plans for future CREAM flights will also be discussed.