In March 1983, President Reagan introduced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as Star Wars, to shift focus from threatening lives to protecting them. Livermore National Laboratory saw a surge in weapons work with the development of third-generation weapons, including nuclear-powered x-ray lasers. The main goal was to create an effective nonnuclear defense, with projects like free-electron lasers and Brilliant Pebbles, small spacecraft designed to intercept ballistic missiles. Brilliant Pebbles gained recognition for their low cost and survivability, becoming part of the Strategic Defense System before being scaled back to theater missile defense in 1994. Despite discontinuation, the Clementine Deep Space Experiment showcased the groundbreaking technology of Brilliant Pebbles.
https://www.llnl.gov/archives/1980s/brilliant-pebbles