In the ideal case is useful payload and is reaction mass (this corresponds to empty tanks having no mass, etc.).

Nuclear fission pulse unit powered Orions could provide fast and economical interplanetary transportation with useful human crewed payloads of several thousand tonnes.

This variant could put approximately 78,000 pounds of payload into a 100 nautical mile (185 km) orbit, around twice the useful payload of the Saturn IB.

However, no rocket of the era had the performance needed to reach orbit on its own with a useful payload, so some sort of staging was needed.

Most military helicopters are armoured to some extent however all equipment is limited to the installed power and lift capability and the limits installed equipment places on useful payload.

It has an empty weight of 2500 kg and a useful payload of 1500 kg, and is a stealthy vehicle intended for use deep in hostile territory.

To reach orbit with a useful payload, the rocket requires careful and extensive engineering to save weight.

Alternatively, the shielding itself could in some cases consist of useful payload, for example food, water, fuel or construction/maintenance materials, and no additional shielding costs are incurred during ascent.

Current material technology is not up to building a single stage vehicle that can go into orbit, and carry a useful payload, and return to earth in a condition to launch again.

The SM.85's useful payload was 1,150 kg (2,540 lb), including the possibility of fitting a 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun with 300-500 rounds.