‘Star Wars’ Launch Cost Put at $1 Trillion

Launching “Star Wars” anti-missile defenses into orbit could cost up to $1 trillion, depending on countermeasures taken by the Soviet Union, according to a congressional study being released today.

“These results have disturbing implications,” the Congressional Research Service said in a report that estimated the cost of launching a system but not its development and manufacture.

“Many of the variables that will drive up (“Star Wars”) launch costs are influenced partially or completely by Soviet actions,” said the report, based in part on information from “Star Wars” scientists at the Sandia, Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories

Ways to Cut Costs Cited

Costs could be cut if the Pentagon registers “spectacular advances” in anti-missile technologies and develops launching systems less expensive than those now available.

Among the steps the Soviets could take to frustrate “Star Wars,” and drive up costs, would be developing rocket boosters that push missiles through the vulnerable boost phase more quickly, equipping rockets with up to 500 decoys and building more missiles capable of reaching the United States.

Costs could be controlled if the superpowers reach a treaty governing strategic arms and space-based missile defenses.

“If the Soviets do not cooperate, however, the launch costs for such a defense could skyrocket . . . . The lack of U.S.-Soviet offensive arms limitations has the potential to drive up launch costs still more,” the report said.

Scientists and officials involved in the Strategic Defense Initiative, as “Star Wars” is formally known, have made similar points in the past, but the congressional report offers the most detailed projection of launching costs.

The computer estimates were made by two congressional researchers and released by three “Star Wars” critics, Democratic Sens. William Proxmire of Wisconsin, J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana and Dale Bumpers of Arkansas.

President Reagan sought $5.8 billion for “Star Wars” research for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, but a Senate panel voted to cut it to $4.5 billion and the House to $3.8 billion.