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In 1957, amidst Cold War tensions, the U.S. launched Project Pluto to develop the Supersonic Low Altitude Missile (SLAM), a nuclear-powered cruise missile designed for low-altitude evasion. Spearheaded by the USAF and the Atomic Energy Commission, the project aimed for speeds over Mach 3, capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Despite a hefty investment of $260 million (around $2 billion today), Project Pluto was canceled in 1964 due to ethical concerns over radioactive emissions, geopolitical risks, and the rise of more efficient intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).