White House responds to Death Star petition

It appears that the White House, like any other workplace, has its share of 'Star Wars' geeks.

The administration was legally obliged to respond to a petition calling for the government to begin construction of a Death Star by 2016, after it was signed by over 34,000 people.

Showing a fine sense of humour, a response was issued by the science and space administration advisor Paul Shawcross entitled 'This Isn't The Petition Response You're Looking For'.

It read: “The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn’t on the horizon. Here are a few reasons.

“The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We’re working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.

“The Administration does not support blowing up planets.

“Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?”

The response went on: “However, look carefully... and you'll notice something already floating in the sky - that's no Moon, it's a Space Station!

“Yes, we already have a giant, football field-sized International Space Station in orbit around the Earth that's helping us learn how humans can live and thrive in space for long durations.

“Even though the United States doesn't have anything that can do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, we've got two spacecraft leaving the Solar System and we're building a probe that will fly to the exterior layers of the Sun.

“We are discovering hundreds of new planets in other star systems and building a much more powerful successor to the Hubble Space Telescope that will see back to the early days of the universe.

“We don't have a Death Star, but we do have floating robot assistants on the Space Station, a President who knows his way around a light saber.

“We are living in the future! Enjoy it. Or better yet, help build it by pursuing a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field. The President has held the first-ever White House science fairs and Astronomy Night on the South Lawn because he knows these domains are critical to our country's future, and to ensuring the United States continues leading the world in doing big things.

“If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”