Definition of payload

The term "payload" originated in the late 1800s, particularly in the context of marine transportation. The term "pay" was used to refer to the fee or compensation chargeable for transporting goods, while "load" referred to the cargo being transported. Combining these two words, the term "payload" was coined to describe the actual weight or volume of cargo being carried, as separate from any additional fees or charges. In the 20th century, "payload" came to be used beyond marine transportation, particularly in aviation and astronautics, to describe any object or collection of objects being transported or carried by a vehicle beyond its own weight and requirements. In these contexts, the payload often refers to valuable equipment, scientific experiments, or spacecraft components that are vital to the success of a mission. In summary, the term "payload" refers to the cargo or object being transported, distilled from the language surrounding the fees or charges for such transportation. Its usage has expanded beyond marine transportation to include aviation and astronautics contexts, where it denotes important items beyond a vehicle's own weight and requirements.