The Golden Dome is a planned multi-layer missile defense system for the United States, intended to detect and destroy ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles before they launch or during their flight. On January 27, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the secretary of defense to submit a plan for the Iron Dome for America—later, Golden Dome—system. It was intended to be operational before the end of his term. The initial name alluded to Israel’s short-range Iron Dome system, but the Golden Dome would encompass the entire Earth, more like the Strategic Defense Initiative proposed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The system would employ a constellation of thousands of satellites equipped with sensors and interceptors that would be the first U.S. space weapons in orbit. Data centers in space would provide automated command and control through a cross-domain artificial intelligence-enabled network. Interceptors would fly in rapid orbit just outside the atmosphere, with only a small fraction available at the right time and place to act on any given threat—a flaw that critics argue makes the concept less efficient than traditional regional missile defenses such as the Iron Dome. In 2019, Donald Trump said the satellites would also carry offensive weapons. Cost estimates for the Golden Dome program range from $175 billion (White House), to $1.2 trillion (Congressional Budget Office), to $3.
Information sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Educational Lesson Plans
Enhance your classroom experience with our comprehensive educational lesson plans designed to accompany this virtual tour. Each lesson plan aligns with national educational standards and includes pre-tour activities, guided exploration questions, discussion prompts, and post-tour assessment materials. Perfect for grades K-12 and higher education.
Share This Virtual Tour
Know someone who would enjoy this virtual field trip? Share this 3D tour with teachers, students, friends, and family. Virtual field trips make learning accessible to everyone, regardless of location or ability to travel.
