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Reports on the perspective among the members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences regarding the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) in the U.S. Cost-effectiveness of the weapon proposal; Quality of the defense system; Role of scientific review in structuring the SDI program.

Focuses on the use of lasers in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) of the U.S. Advantages of lasers for basic SDI purposes; Proposals to use particle-beam weapon; Details of the strategy of the defense program.

Focuses on the increase of budget for research and development in the U.S. Prioritization of project from the Department of Defense; Concentration of funds on the Strategic Defense Initiative; Impact of the budget scheme on nondefense research and development projects.

Describes a technique developed by "Star Wars" researchers that uses a laser system to correct for the atmosphere's blurring of celestial objects. Potential impact of laser system; How scientists are overcoming limitations by mimicking the effects of a reference star with a powerful laser; Problems with atmosphere-induced wandering.

Examines the uses of high-technology lenses. Application of the technology on the components of the Strategic Defense Initiative; Collimation of light; Transformation of electronic excitations into laser beams.

Focuses on the feasibility of ballistic missile defense system in Russia. Threat posed by antisatellite missiles to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI); Possibility of deploying ballistic missile defenses similar to SDI; Dependability of ballistic missile defense system.

Reports on the decision of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) not to participate in activities related to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) in the U.S. Stance of AMS against SDI and military funding of mathematics research; Ability of the SDI program to achieve its stated objectives; Efforts of AMS to decrease the proportion of funding for research coming from the Department of Defense.

Discusses the stand of the American Physical Society regarding the Strategic Defense Initiative in the United States. Scientific and technological feasibility of directed-energy weapons; Characteristics of kinetic-energy weapons; Effectiveness and survivability of directed-energy weapon systems. INSET: Study group members.

Reports the success of the orbit-bound launching of the space shuttle of the Strategic Defense Initiative program in the U.S. Accounts on the unsuccessful launching of the space shuttle Challenger; Details on the successful flight of the suborbital sounding rocket, Aries; Total amount of money loss by the space agency.

Describes the open letter received by the U.S. Congress criticizing the Strategic Defense Initiative of the U.S. Defense Department. Opposition on the goal of the project; Skepticism on the cost of the project.

Reports on a staff study of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or Star Wars program commissioned by senators William Proxmire, J. Bennett Johnson and Lawton Chiles. Interview with scientists, engineers, defense experts and military officials; Pace of progress of the SDI; Shifts in program priorities.

Focuses on protests and petitions of university scientists to the proposed Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program in the U.S. Refusal to take part in the SDI research program; Concerns on the hazards of nuclear weapons; Argument on the transfer of technical and scientific information related to the SDI research.

Presents a letter to the editor regarding an article on antiballistic weapons in the September 17, 1983 issue.