This paper covers the post-launch integration of radiation monitoring on a satellite payload, thereby enabling the collection of space weather data. The Fraunhofer On-Board Processor (FOBP) represents an integral part of the research payload of the German Heinrich-Hertz-Satellite mission. This payload is based on FPGAs and fully reconfigurable to provide a platform for various communication experiments. The FOBP includes memory modules designated for detecting radiation effects at component level. While the initial soft- and firmware configuration did not include this capability, the FOBP mission’s fully reconfigurable design enabled us to adapt the payload’s flight software and ground infrastructure to implement in-orbit radiation monitoring during the operation of the satellite. We developed a robust system for on-board data caching to address operational availability constraints, ensuring redundancy by employing two parallel ground stations for data reception and processing. Throughout the paper, we detail our infrastructure’s design and dynamic configurability, which supports various experimental setups and adapts to prospective mission requirements.

We conclude by presenting the first raw radiation data collected in-orbit and discussing further steps to make real-time and historical radiation data publicly accessible, enhancing research in the area of space weather influences.