# Could we build a Star Wars type Star Destroyer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324 "2010-02-09T20:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/21 "2010-02-10T01:28:37Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Why restrict yourself to Earth? If you have spaceflight, then you can mine the asteroid belt. > > _16 Psyche is believed to contain 1.7×1019 kg of nickel-iron, which could supply the 2004 world production requirement for several million years._ According to Wikipedia. > [Asteroid mining - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_mining#Mining) Hell yes. Just lasso an Iron/Nickel rich asteroid and tug it over to lunar orbit. Set up an Iron works and manufacturing plant on the Moon, and… wait a second… _THAT’S NO MOON!_ ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/22 "2010-02-10T05:27:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’d also have my stormtroopers wearing clear face shields so I can identify infiltrators, and hire Andy McNab to train them in marksmanship so that they blow holes in intruders rather than random bits of my vessel. > > Stranger But will you make the ventilation ducts big enough to crawl through? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/23 "2010-02-10T06:07:51Z")
> [@J\_Cubed](#): > > But will you make the ventilation ducts big enough to crawl through? Yes…but then I’d fill them with adhesive balloons that expand when they encounter body heat. And I’d make all of the access panels attached with non-removable fasteners. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/24 "2010-02-10T08:17:34Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Easily. You do realise that the Earth is 32% iron? Even a Super Star Destroyer would be insignificant mass-wise. I can’t believe I’m the first to say this. The amount of iron available on Earth is insignificant next to the power of the force. There…I got it out of my system. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/25 "2010-02-10T08:24:47Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > The amount of iron available on Earth is insignificant next to the power of the force. Well played, sir! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/26 "2010-02-10T08:29:18Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’d also have my stormtroopers wearing clear face shields so I can identify infiltrators, and hire Andy McNab to train them in marksmanship so that they blow holes in intruders rather than random bits of my vessel. Well, also, you could equip them with armour that is even slightly resilient to blaster shots, or else just let them fight naked. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/27 "2010-02-10T08:46:25Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Somehow a massive ice cube wrapped in tin foil doesnt sound quite as ominous. Lots of foggy breath and dripping corridors, though. Si ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/28 "2010-02-10T11:02:58Z")
[old space veteran]Yeah, I 'member the Ginandtonic wars. I was there; did two tours on the ISS Quinine and one on the L-Twist. Was on the 'Twist on Shaken Day. No, I won’t tell you the worst of what I saw, but if you buy then next round, I’ll tell you some of the best … [/OSV] ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/29 "2010-02-10T13:43:42Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Why restrict yourself to Earth? If you have spaceflight, then you can mine the asteroid belt. Well, I find your lack of ambition disturbing. I want my first trip to the asteroid belt to be in style. Not in some cramped little ship looking for ore to mine. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/30 "2010-02-10T15:08:08Z")
Actually, we not only have that much metal available, we could probably even assemble it into something a floating vessel shaped roughly like a Star Destroyer as well. Which would be _incredibly_ friggin cool. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/31 "2010-02-10T15:20:40Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [old space veteran]Yeah, I 'member the Ginandtonic wars. I was there; did two tours on the ISS Quinine and one on the L-Twist. Was on the 'Twist on Shaken Day. No, I won’t tell you the worst of what I saw, but if you buy then next round, I’ll tell you some of the best … > > [/OSV] Big deal. I’ve seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. Newbie. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/32 "2010-02-10T16:44:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Big deal. I’ve seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. > > Newbie. :rolleyes: Harumph. Back in my day, we were held responsible for our goddamn tears. No whining about losing them in the rain or some other cheap excuse. (Licks the side of his ice ship) And we 'ad to supply our own damn swizzle sticks! ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/33 "2010-02-10T22:11:42Z")
I’ve often wondered what would happen if say, Bill Gates and the Sultan of Brunei got drunk together and vowed to build a big time serious space ship. Not necessarily a star ship, per se, but with their funding, could they launch enough material into space to build at least a hull of what we would think of as a serious “space ship”? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/34 "2010-02-10T22:31:16Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > Not necessarily a star ship, per se, but with their funding, could they launch enough material into space to build at least a hull of what we would think of as a serious “space ship”? IIRC it cost about 10,000 a pound to get stuff into orbit. You can do the math from there. If they use paper mache and styrofoam they will get much more visual bang for the buck. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/35 "2010-02-10T22:49:58Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Lots of foggy breath and dripping corridors, though. > > Si I can see it now. “Admiral, where did your ship go?” “Well, Mr. President, the men were right cranky about, basically, flying around in an ice box, so they turned up the heat.” “It evaporated? I find this unacceptable, Admiral!” “With all due respect Mr. President, you can’t make a pile of poop into a puddin’ pie.” ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324/36 "2010-02-11T00:31:53Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > I’ve often wondered what would happen if say, Bill Gates and the Sultan of Brunei got drunk together and vowed to build a big time serious space ship. > > Not necessarily a star ship, per se, but with their funding, could they launch enough material into space to build at least a hull of what we would think of as a serious “space ship”? If you’re willing to accept certain…environmental impacts and rather delicate public relations/political problems…then there are some apparently technically plausible methods for building and launching from Earth’s surface some _really_ big ships with true interplanetary capability. On the order of [8,000,000 tons](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_(nuclear_propulsion)#Sizes_of_Orion_vehicles) (which is big enough you could probably do things like wrap the crew areas in water tanks as radiation shielding for lengthy deep space voyages). And as a bonus, if anyone objected, you could threaten to rain down nuclear explosives on them from orbit! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-build-a-star-wars-type-star-destroyer/528324.md?page=1)