  Pulsed laser ablation propulsion has the potential to revolutionize space
exploration by eliminating the requirement of a spacecraft to carry its
propellant and power source as the high-power laser is situated off-board. More
experimentation needs to be done to optimize this propulsion system and
understand the mechanisms of thrust generation. There are many methods used to
calculate the impulse imparted in pulsed laser ablation experiments. In this
paper, key performance parameters are derived for some of the impulse
measurement methods used in ablation propulsion experiments. Regimes discussed
include the torsional pendulum system, simple pendulum system, and solid and
liquid microspheres.
