A
secondary payload is a smaller-sized
payload transported to
orbit on a
launch vehicle that is mostly paid for—and with the date and time of launch and the
orbital trajectory determined—by the entity that contracts and pays for the primary launch. As a result, the secondary payload typically obtains a substantially reduced
price for transportation services to orbit, by accepting a trade off of the loss of control once the contract is signed and the payload is delivered to the launch vehicle supplier for integration to the
launch vehicle. These tradeoffs typically include having little or no control over the launch date/time, the final orbital parameters, or the ability to halt the launch and remove the payload should a payload failure occur during ground processing prior to launch, as the
primary payload typically purchases all of these launch
property rights via contract with the launch services provider.