Back in 2012, a group of Star Wars fans decided to test the limits of democracy — and the internet — by submitting a petition to the White House asking the U.S. government to build a real Death Star. Yes, that Death Star. The moon-sized, planet-killing weapon from Star Wars. And what started out as a joke ended up becoming a national conversation that even the Obama administration had to officially address.
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It Got Serious — Fast
The petition, posted on the White House’s “We the People” site, quickly gained traction. It reached 25,000 signatures — the threshold at the time to require an official response — and didn’t stop there. Over 34,000 people signed it, prompting the Office of Management and Budget to reply.
The response came from Paul Shawcross, the chief of the Science and Space Branch. And while it was light-hearted in tone, it was also very clear: “The Administration does not support blowing up planets.”
The Main Reasons the U.S. Said No
So why not build it? First off, the cost. The estimated budget for building a real Death Star? About $850 quadrillion — that’s $850,000,000,000,000,000. As Shawcross wrote, “We’re working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.” Fair enough.
Second, as mentioned above, the government isn’t exactly looking to vaporize planets. That doesn’t quite align with U.S. foreign or domestic policy. As one joked, “That’s why they reclassified Pluto.”
And lastly, the practical issue: vulnerability. “Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?” Shawcross asked. That’s a direct reference to A New Hope, where Luke Skywalker famously destroys the station with just an X-wing and some help from the Force.
But We Do Have a Space Station
The White House reminded everyone that we already have something pretty impressive floating above Earth: the International Space Station (ISS). It may not fire superlasers, but it does help scientists figure out how humans can survive in space long-term. It’s about the size of a football field and costs a mere $100 billion — a total bargain compared to the Death Star.
Shawcross even pointed out: “That’s no moon, it’s a space station!”
While the Death Star is off the table, the response gave a little nod to how far our real-world tech has come. There are floating robot assistants on the ISS, droids being developed by DARPA, and even prosthetic arms similar to Luke Skywalker’s.
“We are living in the future,” Shawcross wrote. “Enjoy it. Or better yet, help build it by pursuing a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field.”
So, Could We Ever Build It?
Technically? Maybe in a few thousand years, assuming exponential tech growth, asteroid mining, and global cooperation. People often compare it to giving Ancient Rome an F-35 and asking them to build it with gold. You need more than money — you need advanced materials, technology, and infrastructure.
Still, the whole event was a fun moment when science, pop culture, and government crossed paths. And while we won’t be seeing a real Death Star anytime soon, we can say the U.S. government officially confirmed: they do not support blowing up planets.
And that’s kind of comforting.