The United States is planning an ambitious missile defense program known as the Golden Dome, which could cost as much as $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years. This program aims to deploy nearly 7,800 space-based interceptors designed to destroy missiles during their boost phase, a period when they are still accelerating and easier to track. According to a report by the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this cost significantly exceeds the Pentagon's previous estimate of $185 billion. The Golden Dome seeks to provide defense for the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii against various missile threats, including ballistic and hypersonic missiles. However, critics argue that the program could lead to a new arms race in space and impose a heavy financial burden on taxpayers, particularly with the maintenance of thousands of satellites that may require frequent replacements due to orbital decay. This initiative echoes former President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative from 1983, which aimed to create a space-based defense shield but was never fully realized due to technological and financial constraints. Modern advancements in satellite networks and tracking systems have reignited interest in such defense concepts.