Luke LaManna

Six months later, in February 1983, Reagan listened as the head of the Navy confirmed that Teller's idea could theoretically work. Computers, lasers, and particle beams had advanced to the point that shooting nuclear missiles down from space was a legitimate prospect. Reagan was so excited about the news that he wanted to announce this bold new plan during an upcoming televised address.

His advisors, including the Secretary of State and the Defense Secretary, urged him to hold off, but he did it anyway. At 8 p.m. on March 23, 1983, Reagan spoke to the country and the world from the Oval Office on live TV.

His advisors, including the Secretary of State and the Defense Secretary, urged him to hold off, but he did it anyway. At 8 p.m. on March 23, 1983, Reagan spoke to the country and the world from the Oval Office on live TV.

Reagan called this bold new program the Strategic Defense Initiative, but it was swiftly dubbed Star Wars by the media and critics alike. Kremlin officials were immediately alarmed at the idea. If U.S. space lasers were capable of neutralizing Soviet nuclear attacks, their arsenal of thousands of nuclear warheads would be obsolete.

Reagan called this bold new program the Strategic Defense Initiative, but it was swiftly dubbed Star Wars by the media and critics alike. Kremlin officials were immediately alarmed at the idea. If U.S. space lasers were capable of neutralizing Soviet nuclear attacks, their arsenal of thousands of nuclear warheads would be obsolete.

Then, what would stop the United States from launching a massive nuclear attack on the Soviet Union? It was a possibility the Soviets simply wouldn't accept. Late on August 31, 1983, six months after Reagan's announcement, Major Gennady Osipovich of the Soviet Air Force took command of the night shift.

Then, what would stop the United States from launching a massive nuclear attack on the Soviet Union? It was a possibility the Soviets simply wouldn't accept. Late on August 31, 1983, six months after Reagan's announcement, Major Gennady Osipovich of the Soviet Air Force took command of the night shift.

He led a squadron of Su-15 interceptor jets out from a large naval base on Sakhalin, Russia's largest island in the Far East, just north of Japan. Osipovich took off and guided the fleet up to cruising altitude.

He led a squadron of Su-15 interceptor jets out from a large naval base on Sakhalin, Russia's largest island in the Far East, just north of Japan. Osipovich took off and guided the fleet up to cruising altitude.

As an experienced squadron leader, Osipovich figured it would be another night of chasing shadows, or at most, of deterring foreign planes that approached, but never quite passed into, prohibited Soviet airspace without real conflict.

As an experienced squadron leader, Osipovich figured it would be another night of chasing shadows, or at most, of deterring foreign planes that approached, but never quite passed into, prohibited Soviet airspace without real conflict.

For months, Osipovich and his squadrons had been sent to deter any American aircraft that were spotted flying over the sea just east of Soviet territory, but they never crossed over, so the missions felt like a waste of time. Then Major Osipovich heard the radio crackle. Ground control told him to fire his guns to test his armaments.

For months, Osipovich and his squadrons had been sent to deter any American aircraft that were spotted flying over the sea just east of Soviet territory, but they never crossed over, so the missions felt like a waste of time. Then Major Osipovich heard the radio crackle. Ground control told him to fire his guns to test his armaments.

The order was usually a sign that he might need to use those guns later, so Osipovich was a bit surprised. But he followed orders, pulling the trigger and letting off a few rounds. Everything worked just fine. As he wondered what prompted the order, ground control sent another message. An aircraft was heading towards Soviet airspace. He was informed that it was most likely a U.S. spy plane.

The order was usually a sign that he might need to use those guns later, so Osipovich was a bit surprised. But he followed orders, pulling the trigger and letting off a few rounds. Everything worked just fine. As he wondered what prompted the order, ground control sent another message. An aircraft was heading towards Soviet airspace. He was informed that it was most likely a U.S. spy plane.

Osipovich suddenly felt his senses sharpen. He checked his radar and headed towards the aircraft. Just after 3 a.m., Osipovich pulled within 20 miles of the plane. He tried to contact it using standard military radio procedures, but he got no response. Then he transmitted messages on the International Emergency Frequency and the Military Distress Channel. Again, nothing.

Osipovich suddenly felt his senses sharpen. He checked his radar and headed towards the aircraft. Just after 3 a.m., Osipovich pulled within 20 miles of the plane. He tried to contact it using standard military radio procedures, but he got no response. Then he transmitted messages on the International Emergency Frequency and the Military Distress Channel. Again, nothing.

His next order was to try and force the plane to land. Osipovich flashed his lights and tipped his wings to draw the attention of the plane's crew. He saw no sign of acknowledgement. As he updated ground control, he could hear a flurry of overlapping voices. He was ordered to fire his guns across the plane's trajectory.

His next order was to try and force the plane to land. Osipovich flashed his lights and tipped his wings to draw the attention of the plane's crew. He saw no sign of acknowledgement. As he updated ground control, he could hear a flurry of overlapping voices. He was ordered to fire his guns across the plane's trajectory.

In 13 years of flying, he'd never been ordered to fire warning shots like this. But once again, Osipovich did as he was told. He fired the shots, but in the dark sky, they went unnoticed by the mysterious plane. Osipovich didn't know it, but he was firing at Korean Air Flight 007.