The carrying capacity of an aircraft or launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight.
UNDERSTANDING PAYLOAD * (See chart on page 3) A truck’s published payload capacity or rating is the starting guideline forcarrying cargo. Payload is the weight of everything that a truck can carryand includes vehicle occupants, optional equipment, contents in thepickup bed or cabin and the tongue weight of a trailer. It turns out that not only do half-ton pickups weigh and carry more than a half ton, they can also tow more than a half ton. Although payload capacity usually refers to how much weight a truck can carry in both passengers and cargo in the cab and bed, towing capacity refers to how much the truck can safely tow. Although different, these two parameters can affect each other. For instance, the payload can include the tongue weight, which is the portion of trailer weight -- usually about 15 percent -- that bears down on the truck's hitch. Manufacturers often embellish the maximum towing capacity of a truck in advertisements.  payload. 1. The sum of the weight of passengers and cargo that an aircraft can carry. See also load. 2. The warhead, its container, and activating devices in a military missile. 3. The satellite or research vehicle of a space probe or research missile. 2. a. The total weight of passengers and cargo that an aircraft carries or can carry. b. The total weight of the instruments, crew, and life-support systems that a spacecraft carries or can carry. c. The passengers, crew, instruments, or equipment carried by an aircraft, spacecraft, or rocket. 3. payload noun [C or U]. › the ​total ​number of ​passengers and ​weight of ​goods that an ​aircraft or a ​ship ​carries or can ​carry, for which ​payment is received: The 767s ​carry a ​maximum payload of 75,000 ​pounds. › the ​amount of ​goods or ​people that a ​vehicle, such as a ​truck or ​aircraft, can ​carry › the ​explosive that a ​missile ​carries › the ​equipment ​carried in a ​spacecraft. (Definition of payload from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press). See all translation Payload is the carrying capacity of an aircraft or launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight. Depending on the nature of the flight or mission, the payload of a vehicle may include cargo, passengers, flight crew, munitions, scientific instruments or experiments, or other equipment. Extra fuel, when optionally carried, is also considered part of the payload. For a ballistic missile, the payload is one or more warheads and related systems; the total weight of these systems is referred to as the throw-weight. The fraction of payload to the total liftoff weight of the air or spacecraft is known as the  payload fraction . Full Definition of PAYLOAD. 1. : the load carried by a vehicle exclusive of what is necessary for its operation; especially: the load carried by an aircraft or spacecraft consisting of things (as passengers or instruments) necessary to the purpose of the flight. 2. : the weight of a payload. The total weight of passengers and cargo that an aircraft carries or can carry. b. The total weight of the instruments, crew, and life-support systems that a spacecraft carries or can carry. c. The passengers, crew, instruments, or equipment carried by an aircraft, spacecraft, or rocket. 2. a. The total weight of passengers and cargo that an aircraft carries or can carry. b. The total weight of the instruments, crew, and life-support systems that a spacecraft carries or can carry. c. The passengers, crew, instruments, or equipment carried by an aircraft, spacecraft, or rocket. 3. When the weight of the payload and fuel are considered together, it is known as the  useful load fraction . In spacecraft, mass fraction is normally used, which is the ratio of payload to everything else, including the rocket structure. For a ballistic missile, the payload is one or more warheads and related systems; the total weight of these systems is referred to as the throw-weight. The fraction of payload to the total liftoff weight of the air or spacecraft is known as the  pay
http://a230.g.akamai.net/7/230/2320/v001/toyota.download.akamai.com/2320/toyota/media/vehicles/2008/tundra/towing_guide.pdf http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/half-ton-truck1.htm http://www.thefreedictionary.com/payload http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/payload https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payload http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payload http://www.thefreedictionary.com/payload https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payload
vehicle payload definition