U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense concept revives a controversial, decades-old initiative whose ambitious construction could upend norms in outer space and reshape relations between the world's top space powers.

Orbiting in space, American satellites detect the bright flames. While the missile is still in its “boost” phase, one of a network of space-based interceptors fires down a laser, or alternative munition, to blow up the threat. America sleeps soundly, protected by its Golden Dome.