This paper describes the development and application of a Standard PayLoad Computer (SPLC) which is being applied by the majority of ESA payloads accommodated on the International Spac Station (ISS). The strategy of adopting of a standard computer leads to a radical rethink in the payload data handling procurement process. Traditionally, this has been based on a proprietary development with repeating costs for qualification, spares, expertise and maintenance for each new payload. Implementations have also tended to be unique with very little opportunity for resue or utilisation of previous developments. While this may to some extent have been justified for short duration one-off missions, the availability of a standard, long term space infrastructure calls for a quite different approach.
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