White House Rejects Star Wars Death Star Petition

The Obama administration has rejected a citizen petition from Star Wars geeks calling for the U.S. government to build a Death Star. Yes, like the dark-side space station capable of disintegrating planets as seen in the Star Wars movies.

Although no one seriously thought they could get the 850 quadrillion dollar project by the federal government, the administration does respond to citizen petitions no matter how dubious.

Over 34,000 people signed the Death Star petition on the White House website. Paul Shawcross, adviser for the White House budget office’s science and space branch gave the official response:  “The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn’t on the horizon. The Administration does not support blowing up planets.”

The U.S. is already involved in several out-of-this-world projects, as Shawcross pointed out, including the International Space Station, two Rovers on Mars, and various spacecraft and satellites not in the business of destroying anything.

In recent weeks, a number of quirky petitions have surfaced, such as one that proposes minting a trillion-dollar platinum coin to avoid defaulting on debt if Congress fails to raise the U.S. debt limit next month.