The system was dubbed Star Wars.
The Strategic Defense Initiative was a missile defense system intended to protect the United States from attacks from nuclear weapons. It was announced by President Reagan on 23 March 1983.
The SDI was nicknamed 'Star Wars' by the Democrat Senator Ted Kennedy, after the 1977 film by George Lucas.
SDI focused on intercepting and destroying enemy missiles with lase beams, using x-rays lasers. Chemical laser was also in use, as well as neutral particle beam and hyper- velocity railgun.
SDI officially ended in 1993, under the Clinton administration.