Overview of the POEMMA-Balloon with Radio Mission

The POEMMA-Balloon with Radio (PBR) is a Super Pressure Balloon payload planned for launch in Spring 2027 from Wanaka, New Zealand. Designed as a precursor to the Probe of Extreme Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (POEMMA) mission and building upon experiences from the EUSO-SPB missions, PBR is developing and testing technology for a space-based multi-messenger astrophysics observatory. PBR has three primary science goals: (1) perform the first observation of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays (E > 1EeV) via the fluorescence technique from near-space altitudes, (2) detect high-altitude horizontal air showers above 1 PeV using combined optical Cherenkov light and radio detectors, and (3) search for Very-High-Energy neutrinos (E>1PeV) coincident with astrophysical transients using the Earth-Skimming technique. To achieve these goals, PBR will fly a fluorescence and a Cherenkov camera on a common focal surface in a 1.1m diameter Schmidt telescope, together with a radio antenna mounted below the telescope. The entire instrument has a 360° azimuthal pointing range and zenith pointing range between nadir and 13° above the horizontal, allowing for transient follow-up observations. In addition to the main instruments, PBR will be equipped with an infrared camera to monitor clouds and a gamma/x-ray detector, which may provide valuable insights into the details of air shower development. This contribution presents an overview of the PBR payload and expected detector performance.