這門課有三種類型的作業：
There are three kinds of assignments for the seminar:

• 閱讀：大部分的每週都會有大量的指定閱讀。準備好於課堂中討論該週指定閱讀。
  Reading: Most weeks there will be extensive reading assigned.
• 單頁備忘錄：幾乎每週都要繳交相關主題的單頁備忘錄。這些單頁備忘錄限定長度在一頁以內，基本上的內容是高階決策人員向你詢問背景資訊或是諮詢你的建議時會想要聽見的。
  1-pg Memos: A 1-page memo on a relevant topic will be due almost each week. These 1-page memos are meant to be no more than 1 page, and are typical of what a high-level decision maker would expect when they ask you for background information or your recommendation.
• 學期團體專題：包括議題研究，論文/模型寫作，課堂報告，以及在準備報告時，為同學準備所需閱讀資料。這個團體專題是發展一種新型可回收的發射載具以所面臨相關的技術與架構，以及政策方案。
  Group Term Project: Includes researching the issue, writing a paper/model, making a presentation to the class, and preparing reading materials for the class in preparation for the presentation. The group project will be a study of the technological, architectural, and policy options associated with developing a new reusable launch vehicle.

作業單頁備忘錄的詳細說明：
Detailed Description of 1-pg Memo Assignments

備忘錄必須寫得非常清晰，簡潔，並且給決策者一個合理的論點。這些備忘錄的評分標準包括了拼字和文法以及優美的外觀。
Memos must be clearly written, succinct, and give make a reasoned case to a decision-maker. They will be graded for spelling and grammar as well as good aesthetic presentation.

參閱Stone著作為背景的備忘錄
Memo based on Stone's reading
你是美國總統處理太空事務的特助，而且你才剛到任一天。總統剛剛才讀過Stone寫的書〈政策詭辯〉並且很喜歡那個蛋糕的譬喻。他要你給他一份單頁備忘錄，內容是比較各項蛋糕分配法，並舉出基於該法的政府政策(過去或是現在的皆可)。他會希望你使用太空政策為例，但是如果你做不到他也能諒解。
You are a special assistant to the President of the United States for Space Matters and you have only been on the job for one day. The President has just read the first two chapters of the Stone book "Policy Paradox" and likes the cake story. He wants a one page memo from you that pairs each of the cake distribution methods cited with a government policy (past or present) that is based on that method. He would like you to use space policies but would understand if you cannot.

衛星飛越備忘錄
Satellite Flyover Memo
現在是西元1956年。你是艾森豪總統的國家安全顧問，總統想要了解國外製造的衛星飛越美國統治下的領土所牽涉的事務。因為這是前所未有的事件，總統要你繳交一份單頁備忘錄來描述如果蘇聯成為第一個使用人造衛星飛越美國的國家，美國能什麼採取什麼行動 (反應) ，他希望一星期內報告交到總統辦公室。
It is 1956. You are the National Security Advisor to President Eisenhower, and the President would like to understand the implications of over flight of US sovereign territory by satellites of foreign origin. Since this has never happened before, he has asked you for a 1 page memo describing the potential courses of action (responses) the US could take if the Soviet Union were the first to overfly the US with a satellite. He wants the memo on his desk in the Oval Office in one week.

登月任務架構備忘錄
Moon mission architecture based memo
現在是西元1963年，你是總統的科學顧問。你所擔任主席的總統科學顧問委員會(PSAC)建議為登月任務發展一種地球軌道工程，這可以供長期使用，但是會延遲登陸月球的時間。甘迺迪總統要你繳交一份單頁備忘錄，建議他如何回覆委員會的建議，究竟他該接受或是拒絕PSAC的建議呢？
It is 1963 and you are the Science Adviser to the President. The President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC), which you chair, has recommended the development of an earth orbit infrastructure for the lunar missions. This will develop infrastructure for the long term but delay the moon landing. President Kennedy has asked you for a 1 page memo advising him on what to do about the PSAC recommendation- should he take it or reject it?

阿波羅計畫備忘錄
Apollo Memo
現在是西元1970年。美國國會正在考慮終止阿波羅計畫，並且在阿波羅十七號之後便停止一切任務。你是眾議院科學小組委員會太空事務組的成員，而科學小組委員會的主席要求你寫一份單頁備忘錄來詳細說明繼續進行阿波羅計畫的重要原因。在備忘錄裡面你也必須提到終止阿波羅計畫的論點，並加以反駁。主席急切地期望你在一週之內交出備忘錄，以便屆時他能和與他意見對立的小組委員會成員展開舌戰。
It is 1970. The Congress is considering terminating the Apollo program, and discontinuing all missions after Apollo 17. You are a Committee Staffer for the House Science Subcommittee on Space, and have been asked by the Subcommittee Chair to write a 1-page memo detailing the important reasons to continue the Apollo Program. In the memo, you should also address the chief arguments for terminating the Program and rebut these. The Chair eagerly expects your memo in one week, at which time he goes to battle with opposing Subcommittee members.

挑戰者號備忘錄
Challenger Memo
現在是西元1986年一月28日的傍晚。那個早晨在挑戰者號太空梭爆炸事件之後，美國太空總署署長指定以你為署內委員會之首，負責商討因應對策來回應這次的悲劇事件。署長要求你繳交一份單頁備忘錄，內容是陳述美國太空總署應該如何重建美國人民對於太空計劃的信心，並且在最短的時間內讓太空梭再度安全地飛行。署長尤其關注太空總署應該對美國人民展現什麼樣的態度，以及應該要讓人民對這個意外了解到什麼程度。署長要求你一週之內繳交備忘錄。
It is late afternoon on January 28, 1986. In wake of the Challenger explosion that morning, the NASA Administrator has appointed you head of a select NASA committee chartered to recommend a course of action for the Agency in response to the tragedy. The Administrator has asked you for a 1-page memo describing what NASA should do to reestablish the American people's faith in the space program and get the space shuttles flying safely again as soon as possible. He is particularly concerned with what attitude NASA should portray to the American people, and how much they should know about the accident. He wants your memo in one week.

國際太空站居住艙設計備忘錄
ISS Hab Module Decision Memo
你是美國太空總署副署長的特別助理，處理太空站的事務。美國管理與預算局(OMB)建議柯林頓總統停止太空總署按目前計畫資助國際太空站居住艙，相反地應建構商業居住艙模組。副署長要求你繳交一份單頁備忘錄詳細說明太空總署應該採取什麼因應對策並且解釋原因。尤其副署長需要知道她應該贊成或是反對管理與預算局的建議。
You are the Special Assistant to the NASA Associate Administrator for Space Station. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has recommended to President Clinton that NASA discontinue funding for the International Space Station Habitation Module as currently planned, and instead procure a habitation module commercially. The Associate Administrator has asked you for a 1 page memo detailing what course of action NASA should pursue and why. Specifically, she needs to know if she should concur with the OMB recommendation or go against it.

月球公約決策備忘錄
Moon Treaty Decision Memo
你是參議院科技與太空小組委員會的成員。聯合國月球公約已經通過並且遞交到你的小組委員會進行審查與評估。小組委員會的主席，福瑞斯特參議員要求你繳交一份單頁備忘錄，說明參議院是否該批准這份協議。一如往常，他要求一個完善的理由來支持你的建議。他馬上就要和所有小組委員會成員開會，所以希望你的備忘錄能夠及時完成以便他在會議中可以提出。
You are a Committee Staffer for the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space. The UN Moon Treaty has been passed to your Subcommittee for review and comment. The Chairman of this Subcommittee, Senator Frist, has asked you for a 1 page memo on whether or not the Senate should ratify the Treaty. As always, he expects a sound justification to back up your recommendation. He is meeting with the full Subcommittee soon, and wants your recommendation at that time in order to present it to the subcommittee members.

美國下一階段太空發展備忘錄
Next US Space Endeavor Memo
你是白宮科技政策幕僚的太空專員，你的上司，也就是布希總統的科學顧問，最近被總統諮詢美國下一步應該著手的太空計劃。你的上司要求你繳交一份單頁備忘錄來說明幾個太空計劃的方案，並且建議白宮科技政策幕僚應該支持哪項方案。你的上司提醒你，你是為總統效力，因此你提出的計畫都應該支持總統的國家施政方針。你的上司一週之內需要這個備忘錄，因為一週之後他和總統會有個午後會議，他需要時間來檢視你的建議。
You are the Assistant Director for Space at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Your boss, the Science Advisor to President Bush, has been asked by the President for a recommendation on the next space project the US should undertake. Your boss has asked you for a 1 page memo describing several project options, and recommending which one the OSTP should back. He reminds you that you work for the President, and any projects should support his agenda for the country. He needs the memo in a week, as he has an afternoon meeting with the President a week from today and will need a some time to review your recommendations.