The Death Star: A Pentagon Purchasing Nightmare

**xinhui** · 14 Sep 11,, 19:30

The Death Star: A Pentagon Purchasing Nightmare

By Adam Rawnsley Email Author
September 8, 2011 |
3:10 pm |
Categories: Paper Pushers, Beltway Bandits, Politicians

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, another military superpower spent way too much money on massive planet-busting weapons that didn’t work well. Maybe the Defense Department could learn something from this before it finds an X-wing crammed up its thermal-exhaust port.

Meet the biggest cautionary tale in the world of defense procurement: the Death Star. Thanks to the Pentagon’s in-house acquisition journal, Defense AT&L Magazine — not usually a venue for fan fic — we have a detailed explanation as to why. Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Ward provides a nerdy-but-accurate examination of the Empire’s acquisition flaws in building the moon-sized death ray:

In the Star Wars universe, robots are self-aware, every ship has its own gravity, Jedi Knights use the Force, tiny green Muppets are formidable warriors and a piece of junk like the Millennium Falcon can make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. But even the florid imagination of George Lucas could not envision a project like the Death Star coming in on time, on budget.

The Empire’s answer to Ash Carter should have seen it coming. It’s embarrassing enough that the galaxy’s supposedly most fearsome weapon was felled by crappy duct work.

But it was entirely predictable. A project so big and complex, Ward writes, will invariably stretch the oversight capabilities of acquisition staff. In this case, it led to manufacturing delays and prevented the Empire from realizing that one of its thermal-exhaust ports was a de facto self-destruct button.

Moreover, for all the expense poured into it – $15.6 septillion and 94 cents, to be precise — the Death Star is destroyed twice, and in its two iterations only ever manages to get off a few shots.

Star Wars holds lessons about what to buy as well as what not to. Ward contends that the humble droid mechs represent a better acquisition path than Death Stars. They’re sturdy, battle-tested systems that are affordable and live up to their billing.

R2D2’s better at flight maintenance than taking out planets, but at 4,245 Republic Credits, he’s undeniably a bargain. By contrast, the Empire didn’t end up getting much use out of the Death Star, for all it spent on it.

Anyone who’s paid attention to the Defense Department’s acquisitions woes will get Ward’s point. Really expensive weapons that we haven’t gotten much use out of? Check.

Gigantic laser beam faced with delays and overspending? Take a look at the Flying Lightsaber.

Hopelessly complex and expensive systems? Try Future Combat Systems.

Ward’s analysis of Imperial weapons-buying flubs can be read as a reiteration of former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ approach to acquisition. Buy the weapons that work. Buy the weapons that are relevant to the threats at hand, and the most likely ones of the near future. Big isn’t always beautiful. Practical is.

Admittedly, the Rebel Alliance is looking for the knockout blow against the Empire. But that’s not typically how insurgencies win: They win by compelling empires into counterproductive overspending.

If the rumors of another round of Star Wars sequels are true, maybe we can look forward to watching the Empire go bankrupt after convincing itself to buy two Death Stars, on the theory that different models will drive down costs.

The Death Star: A Pentagon Purchasing Nightmare | Danger Room | Wired.com

**xinhui** · 14 Sep 11,, 19:30

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By Jesus Diaz Feb 4, 2009 7:53 AM
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Death Star Costs $15.6 Septillion, 1.4 Trillion Times the US Debt

If you had $15.6 septillion and 94 cents in your account, would you save the world from the economic crisis or build a Death Star, destroy the world, and move on to invade the galaxy?

A guy called Ryszard Gold-who probably is an alien villain from the Outer Rim planets and got a 49-point score in our Geek Social Aptitude Test-made the calculation of the most basic Death Star's price with current materials and space transport costs here on Earth. Here's a quick summary:

• First, assume that 1/10 of the 17.16 quadrillion cubic meters of the Death Star is something other than empty space and 6/10 of the total volume is pressurized space.
• That will require 1.71 quadrillion cubic meters of steel, about 134 quadrillion tonnes. That's $12.95 quintillion in current 2008 prices, and that's without counting strange alloys and elements.
• Shipping that to space will cost $95 million per tonne: So add $12.79 septillion in transport.
• Now you need to add air, which will require 8.23 quintillion cubic meters of Nitrogen, and 1.65 quintillion cubic meters of oxygen, for a total delivery cost of $2.81 septillions and $212.46 quintillion.

The total: $15,602,022,489,829,821,422,840,226.94.

Yes, that's a whooping 1.4 trillion times the current US Debt. Or a sightly more meaningful number: 124 trillion years of war in Iraq.

That will only get you the very basic model of Death Star, no options, no GPS, no radio, no leather heated seats, no mega-laser to obliterate planets, no turbolaser towers, no computer systems, no miscellaneous life support systems, no crew quarters, no turbo-elevators, no energy generators, no showers, no air conditioning, no Darth Vader's jacuzzi, no Emperor's home theater system, and no bloody canteen. And don't get me started on the cost of all the lunch trays and the constant supply of penne all'arrabbiata and peas needed for all the Death Star personell*. That will probably double the final bill, coupled with the construction costs, for a total of more than $31 septillions.

As for the answer to the first question, there's no doubt about it. But then again, I always liked the Emperor's robe. He goes naked everywhere and nobody notices. [Rick Gold - Thanks Ron]
Death Star Costs $15.6 Septillion, 1.4 Trillion Times the US Debt

**ArmchairGeneral** · 14 Sep 11,, 20:03

Way too much metal, unless it's built about 5 times as sturdily as an ocean going ship. According to my rough calculations.

But that is tiny fraction of the cost, assuming he got the other calculations right. Which I will not check.

**sourkraut115** · 14 Sep 11,, 20:58

Don't tell the people on Alderaan that the danged thing didn't work. One shot, one planet.

**xinhui** · 14 Sep 11,, 21:03

Some nice project management LOLs

Death Star Operational Assessment
Introduced in Episode IV, A New Hope, the Death Star makes an impressive debut when it vaporizes the planet Alderaan—the one and only time it fires its main weapon. Shortly thereafter, the entire station, with 1.2 million people on board, is destroyed by a single shot fired by a half-trained Jedi.

Darth Vader complains that the second Death Star construction project is … behind schedule. In fact, much of the drama in Episode VI revolves around this delay.

Even worse, it turns out getting a moon-sized project back on track requires the personal presence of a Sith Lord. Let me assure you, if your project’s success depends on hiring someone whose first name is Darth, you’ve got a problem.

But even the florid imagination of George Lucas could not envision a project like the Death Star coming in on time, on budget

**Parihaka** · 14 Sep 11,, 21:16

Originally Posted by ArmchairGeneral

Which I will not check.

Yeah right. STEP AWAY FROM THE CALCULATOR......

**Tarek Morgen** · 14 Sep 11,, 21:18

I wonder if they have not wasted even more money on those armours that can not even stop makeshift bows & arrows.

**ArmchairGeneral** · 14 Sep 11,, 21:39

Originally Posted by Parihaka

Yeah right. STEP AWAY FROM THE CALCULATOR......

I can't. It's on my computer.

**Nightowl** · 15 Sep 11,, 06:49

Originally Posted by ArmchairGeneral

I can't. It's on my computer.

which he's chained to.

**Officer of Engineers** · 15 Sep 11,, 07:01

Originally Posted by ArmchairGeneral

But that is tiny fraction of the cost, assuming he got the other calculations right. Which I will not check.

You are assuming it's steel versus another alloy ... which btw steel is an invalid assumption considering a civilization that expands 10s of 1000s of systems and have mastered FTL travel for moonsize vessels.

**tankie** · 15 Sep 11,, 13:05

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

You are assuming it's steel versus another alloy ... which btw steel is an invalid assumption considering a civilization that expands 10s of 1000s of systems and have mastered FTL travel for moonsize vessels.

Yaaaayyyy I knew you would become a convert Col , may the force be with you

**Chogy** · 15 Sep 11,, 13:47

I don't know where he got his "loft to orbit" numbers from. Apparently in the Star Wars universe, you could get something like the Millenium Falcon to orbit with the fuel equivalent of a bottle of BBQ propane.

And maybe the Death Star was plastic. Or organic. Or a highly re-engineered small moon.

I think his premise is lame. Let's say you buy a quadrillion battle droids. They roam about on their planet, impressing everyone, until the death star blows the planet to atoms.

**Doktor** · 15 Sep 11,, 14:02

Apparently, someone has a bigger calc then AG. And is willing to use it

---------------------------------------------

Death Star Costs $15.6 Septillion, 1.4 Trillion Times the US Debt

If you had $15.6 septillion and 94 cents in your account, would you save the world from the economic crisis or build a Death Star, destroy the world, and move on to invade the galaxy?

A guy called Ryszard Gold-who probably is an alien villain from the Outer Rim planets and got a 49-point score in our Geek Social Aptitude Test-made the calculation of the most basic Death Star's price with current materials and space transport costs here on Earth. Here's a quick summary:

• First, assume that 1/10 of the 17.16 quadrillion cubic meters of the Death Star is something other than empty space and 6/10 of the total volume is pressurized space.
• That will require 1.71 quadrillion cubic meters of steel, about 134 quadrillion tonnes. That's $12.95 quintillion in current 2008 prices, and that's without counting strange alloys and elements.
• Shipping that to space will cost $95 million per tonne: So add $12.79 septillion in transport.
• Now you need to add air, which will require 8.23 quintillion cubic meters of Nitrogen, and 1.65 quintillion cubic meters of oxygen, for a total delivery cost of $2.81 septillions and $212.46 quintillion.

The total: $15,602,022,489,829,821,422,840,226.94.

Yes, that's a whooping 1.4 trillion times the current US Debt. Or a sightly more meaningful number: 124 trillion years of war in Iraq.

That will only get you the very basic model of Death Star, no options, no GPS, no radio, no leather heated seats, no mega-laser to obliterate planets, no turbolaser towers, no computer systems, no miscellaneous life support systems, no crew quarters, no turbo-elevators, no energy generators, no showers, no air conditioning, no Darth Vader's jacuzzi, no Emperor's home theater system, and no bloody canteen. And don't get me started on the cost of all the lunch trays and the constant supply of penne all'arrabbiata and peas needed for all the Death Star personell*. That will probably double the final bill, coupled with the construction costs, for a total of more than $31 septillions.

As for the answer to the first question, there's no doubt about it. But then again, I always liked the Emperor's robe. He goes naked everywhere and nobody notices. [Rick Gold - Thanks Ron]

**ArmchairGeneral** · 15 Sep 11,, 15:31

Originally Posted by Nightowl

which he's chained to.

Well that goes without saying.

**YellowFever** · 15 Sep 11,, 15:40

Sure, as usual, you guys are preoccupied with a whiz bang toy like the Death Star while the average Storm Trooper is without a decent health system and their families starve...