NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Projected Costs for ‘Star Wars’ Cut 20%

The estimated costs of building and deploying Phase I of the “Star Wars” missile-defense system have been reduced 20% to $55 billion, the Pentagon announced. The lower projection was based on “technical progress and an evolving architecture for the space-based portion” of the system, the office for the Strategic Defense Initiative said. SDI officials in June, 1988, estimated the cost of Phase I to be $115 billion but the estimate was reduced to $69 billion in October, 1988, based on “significant technology advancements.”