Aside from the hole that leads to the main reactor, it seems the Death Star could have been designed far better. According to chief engineer, Brian Muirhead, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the best way to build the famous space station is constructing it around an asteroid, not from just off world parts like in the Star Wars films. Muirhead explains in an interview with Wired that an asteroid would “provide the metals, you’ve got organic compounds, you have water and all the building blocks you would need to build your family a Death Star.” This does make sense given it would also allow for a central structure that a Death Star could be built around…if only the Imperial Engineers knew about this.
Muirhead also comments on the challenges of flying through an asteroid field, noting that speed and our reaction time would most likely cause us to crash. “Flying quickly through an asteroid field is a problem. Flying more slowly through an asteroid field, yes you can absolutely do that.” Currently, according to Muirhead, their own probe, Dawn, is flying through the main belt asteroid field. This is thanks to ion propulsion, which is a main source of transportation in the Star Wars universe.
Muirhead also explains his latest project coming up that will move a boulder off the surface of an asteroid and place it in orbit of our moon. This will then allow NASA to launch a manned mission, so they can land on the surface of the boulder to collect samples. The actual landing is scheduled for 2023; hopefully, they don’t find any giant alien worms inside.
What do you think of NASA’s comments on the Death Star? Would it interest you to watch how the Star Wars crafts are made? If so, which one would like to see? Sound off below!
A recent graduate of Arcadia University, Collin MacGregor is a freelance video editor and writer. He covers video games, television, and film for The Nerd Stash. Collin currently is the head film/television reviewer for the site.
