35,000 Americans Tried to Build a Real Life Death Star... Like, Seriously!

Almost 35,000 Americans tried to build a real life Death Star, forcing the US government to respond in an unexpected way... Like, seriously!

Despite taking place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the various vehicles and weapons in Star Wars seem almost unobtainable from a modern day technological standpoint. Yet this fact meant nothing to 34,435 sadists, I mean, United States citizens, who probably fancied blowing up Mars! On January 11th, 2013, this surprisingly large group petitioned the White House to begin construction on a real life Death Star.

Now you might be thinking the US government simply brushed this request under the carpet and got on with slightly more pressing matters. Well, at the time, only 25,000 signatures were required for an official administration response, meaning Paul Shawcross, the poor, poor chap and chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House's Office of Management and Budget, had to genuinely consider the logistics of building a moon-sized battle station.

According to Paul, such a project would set taxpayers back $850 quadrillion. To put that into context, the US spent approximately $280 billion dollars during the space race, when adjusted for inflation. Constructing a real life Death Star would be the equivalent of sending man to the moon roughly 3 million (3,035,714.3) times over. And quite frankly, Paul didn't have enough wiggle room in his budget:

“The White House is trying to reduce the deficit, not expand it.”

He also questioned the moral implications involved, and poked fun at the Empire's miserable architecture:

“The Administration does not support blowing up planets.”

“Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?”

After this humorous and highly publicised exchange, the White House increased the number of signatures for an official administration response, going from 25,000 to 100,000.

So if those 34,435 aforementioned petitioners want to give building a real life Death Star another go, they might need around 65,000 pals.

Or, you know, they could instead pursue careers in science, technology or engineering, like Paul Shawcross suggested in his letter, and then, who knows? Maybe in a couple centuries time we'll be blowing up planets and ruling the galaxy with an iron fist!

I can't wait!

Let me know in the comments below if you think we'll ever build a terrifying space weapon, and don't forget to like, share and subscribe. I've been Matt from Inside Star Wars, YOU have been awesome! I'll see you next time.