The thesis presents the design, development, and partial prototyping of a Payload Control and Data Handling Unit (PCDHU) for space applications, compliant with Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) protocols. Increasing computational demands and data volumes generated by modern scientific payloads such as synthetic aperture radars, high-resolution cameras and spectrometers, which can produce raw bitrates from 1Gbps to tens of Gbps. This project proposes an enhanced version that not only handles payload data storage and high-speed downlink but also assumes responsibility for payload-specific telecommand and telemetry, further reducing OBC workload. Proposed PCDHU architecture is divided into four subsystems integrated on a custom backplane providing electrical and mechanical interconnection.