Understanding Cosmic Rays with Balloon, Satellite and Space Station Experiments

Direct research on galactic cosmic rays in the energy region between tens MeV/n and few TeV/n has been extensively undertaken since the sixties by experiments on board stratospheric balloons, satellites, Mir Station and International Space Stations. Indirect explorations on ultra-high energy extragalactic cosmic rays are now planned on the ISS. Main objectives of these experiments are the search for primordial antimatter, dark matter annihilation signals, exotic particles and the study of sites and mechanisms of production, acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays. The monitoring of cosmic ray solar modulation, detection of solar flares, search for new radiation belts, and studies on the interaction of particles with the terrestrial magnetosphere complete the program.
A review of the major results up to an energy of 1 TeV obtained by the previous and the current experiments will be presented in this talk, as well the programs for the highest energies.