In military aircraft or space exploration, the payload is the carrying capacity of an aircraft or space ship, including as cargo, munitions, scientific instruments or experiments, or external fuel, although internal fuel is usually not included.
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Aircraft
There is a natural trade-off between the payload and the range of the aircraft. A payload range diagram (also known as the "elbow chart") illustrates the trade-off. The top horizontal line represents the maximum payload. It is limited structurally by MZFW (maximum zero-fuel weight) of the aircraft. Maximum payload is the difference between the MZFW and the OEW (operating empty weight). Moving left-to-right along the line shows the constant maximum payload as the range increases. More fuel needs to be added for more range. The vertical line represents the range at which the combined weight of the aircraft, maximum payload and needed fuel reaches the MTOW (maximum take-off weight) of the [aircraft]. If the range is increased beyond that point, payload has to be sacrificed for fuel. The second kink in the curve represents the point at which the maximum fuel capacity is reached. Flying further than that point means that the payload has to be reduced further, for an even lesser increase in range. The absolute range is thus the range at which an aircraft can fly with maximum possible fuel without carrying any payload.
Space craft
For a rocket the payload can be a spacecraft launched with the rocket, or in the case of a ballistic missile, the warhead(s). Compare the throw-weight, which includes more than the warhead(s).
Examples
Examples of payload capacity:
- Antonov An-225: 250,000 kg
- Saturn V:
- Payload to Low Earth Orbit 118,000 kg
- Payload to Lunar orbit 47,000 kg
- Space Shuttle:
- Payload to Low Earth Orbit 24,400 kg (53,700 lb)
- Payload to geostationary transfer orbit 3,810 kg (8,390 lb)
- Trident missile: 2800 kg
Payload constraints
Launch and transport system differ not only on the payload that can be carried but also in the stresses and other factors placed on the payload. The payload must not only be lifted to its target, it must also arrive safely, whether elsewhere on the surface of the Earth or a specific orbit. To ensure this the payload, such as a warhead or satellite, is designed to withstand certain amounts of various types of "punishment" on the way to its destination. The various constraints placed on the launch system can be roughly categorized into those which cause physical damage to the payload and those which can damage its electronic or chemical makeup. Examples of physical damage include extreme accelerations over short time scales caused by atmospheric buffeting or oscillations, extreme accelerations over longer time scales caused by rocket thrust and gravity, and sudden changes in the magnitude or direction of the acceleration caused by how quick engines are throttled and shut down, etc. While damage to electrical or chemical/biological payloads can be sustained through things such as extreme temperatures (hot or cold), rapid changes in temperature, rapid pressure changes, contact with fast moving air air streams causing ionization, and radiation exposure from cosmic rays, the Van-Allen Belts, solar wind, etc.
- See also: Tsiolkovsky rocket equation
