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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!ihnp4!astrovax!elt
From: elt@astrovax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.movies.sw
Subject: Death Star Population = Imperial Casualties
Message-ID: <168@astrovax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Dec-83 15:45:23 EST
Article-I.D.: astrovax.168
Posted: Thu Dec  8 15:45:23 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Dec-83 02:00:33 EST
Organization: Princeton Univ. Astrophysics
Lines: 29

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A recent discussion concluded that the probable diameter of the Death Star
is in the range 80-160 km based on several lines of argument.

umcp-cs!rene raised the question of the probable population of a "ship" of
this size.

A simple calculation shows that an 80 km. radius sphere has a volume of
270,000 km^3 and assuming decks separated by 3m, a total deck space area
of 90 million km^2 (roughly half the land area of the Earth).  If this
structured were manned at the same crew density as a modern nuclear aircraft
carrier (say CVN Enterprise to be specific), its population would be about
2 trillion!  This figure could be brought down to about 20 billion if the
crew density were reduced to a level comparable to that in a crowded
country (e.g., Japan or the Netherlands).  At levels comparable to a rather
empty country (say Australia), the number would be down to about 200 million
(i.e., comparable to the population of the US).  This last number would be
roughly like manning a CVN with only one person!  The crew would have
a hard time finding each other!

If the per capita energy consumption in the Death Star were equal to that
in the US today, the Death Star's surface temperature would be 2300 deg. K
(3700 deg F = glowing a dull red hot), 730 deg. K (855 deg F), or 230 deg K
(-45 deg F) respectively for the three population figures mentioned above.
This would be required simply to radiate waste heat into space.  The interior
temperatures would be higher.

Ed Turner
astrovax!elt