Payload
From Free net encyclopedia
In cargo transport, the payload is the valuable contents of the vehicle.
In communications and information science, the payload or mission bit stream is the data, such as a data field, block, or stream, being processed or transported — the part that represents user information and user overhead information. It may include user-requested additional information, such as network management and accounting information. Note that the payload does not include system overhead information for the processing or transportation system.
In computer virus jargon, the payload of a virus or worm is any action it is programmed to take other than merely spreading itself. The term is used for all intended functions, whether they actually work or not.
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.
Also, with aircraft carrying payload, a trade-off has to be made whether to increase payload or whether to increase the range of the aircraft. This trade-off is done according to a so called payload range diagram. The upper horizontal line represents the aircraft maximum take-off weight (MTOW). This MTOW consists of three components: aircraft empty weight, fuel and payload. Up 'til the vertical line, the aircraft can take its maximum payload for its maximum range. If the range is increased beyond that point, payload has to be sacrificed for fuel, 'til it reaches the point of payload at maximum range. Flying further than that point means that the payload has to be reduced further, and only for a slight increase in range. The absolute range is thus the range at which an aircraft can fly without carrying any payload
See also Tsiolkovsky rocket equation.
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