In May 1978, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a priority list of potential Soviet target satellites for the MHV hit-to-kill ASAT then under development. The Chiefs also directed that work on begin on a "conventional ASAT", a low-risk alternative system using off-the-shelf technology. This system, employing pellets as its kill mechanism, was intended as a backup in case the MHV ran into technical or cost problems.

• 1978 May 1 - Pentagon issues ASAT target list -
  The US Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a priority list of potential Soviet target satellites for the MHV hit-to-kill ASAT. The Chiefs also directed that work on begin on a 'conventional ASAT', a low-risk alternative system using off-the-shelf technology.