Nuking the Death Star

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2002-09-03 10:07pm

OK, let's assume that an individual with a Hiroshima class atomic bomb on his person infiltrates the Death Star I, and detonates the bomb near the center. Disregard the implausibility/impossibility of this action. How serious is the damage? One atomic bomb surely isn't enough to destroy a station the size of a moon.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-09-03 10:14pm

How close to the reactor is this person? Actually in the Core, or just off to the periphery? It would be enough (POSSIBLY) to destroy the station if it was detonated INSIDE the reactor core, but remember that the Core must have a shield between itself and the rest of the station. If he was outside of the Core, the damage would be minimal.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2002-09-03 10:57pm

In the RotJ is described the Death Star as rocking from a Rebel assault of thermonuclear explosions generated by thier laser fire.

RayCav of ASVS · Post by **RayCav of ASVS** » 2002-09-03 11:37pm

Well, if its inside the reactor, or near enough, then we end up with ANH all over again. If it's in the deep interior but too far from the core, well I honestly don't know then. My biggest hope would be to hold out and hope that Lord Wong reads this and bestows us with his God-like knowledge.

BTW I'm not being sarcastic read my sig

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2002-09-03 11:53pm

A proton torp is stronger then a concussion missile, and it took 2 from Luke to bring it down.

CMS crank in at 190 MT, far greater then the Hiroshima bomb.

Maybe if you put it at just the right spot you could do it, but I'm doubtful.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-09-03 11:57pm

A 15-kiloton weapon is going to vaporize an area a few hundred meters across and do very heavy damage out for perhaps several kilometers, assuming it doesn’t hit any really heavy-duty bulkheads.

We'd be looking at damage to a couple percent of the Death Star. But that’s all assuming its construction is no stronger then what we have today. I really doubt that. In reality given what the proton torpedo that missed the vent did to the stations surface, I'd suspect damage would be confined to the space the bomb is exploded in.

I'd really like an explanation of how a guy can hid, let a lone carry, a 10,000-pound bomb that's a couple yards long though.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2002-09-04 12:00am

Heh, like I said, ignore the impossibility of the act.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2002-09-04 12:05am

Just for reference, the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima (Little Boy-uranium) and Nagasaki (Fat Man-plutonium) are 15 kt and 21 kt respectively.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2002-09-04 12:36am

In order to power the superlaser, the core's shield has to block energy much greater than the energy released in the A-bombs. Which means to do any damage to the core itself, even to just scratches the paint, the bomb has to be within the core, on the wrong side of the shield.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2002-09-04 12:40am

Sea Skimmer wrote:I'd really like an explanation of how a guy can hid, let a lone carry, a 10,000-pound bomb that's a couple yards long though.

In his pants, duh...

"hey, Warrent Officer Jeltan! Is that an atomic bomb in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2002-09-04 01:40am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:I'd really like an explanation of how a guy can hid, let a lone carry, a 10,000-pound bomb that's a couple yards long though.
In his pants, duh...

"hey, Warrent Officer Jeltan! Is that an atomic bomb in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Is that a atom bomb in your pants or...naw I don't think so.

NieA_7 · Post by **NieA_7** » 2002-09-04 01:56am

Durran Korr wrote:OK, let's assume that an individual with a Hiroshima class atomic bomb on his person infiltrates the Death Star I, and detonates the bomb near the center. Disregard the implausibility/impossibility of this action. How serious is the damage? One atomic bomb surely isn't enough to destroy a station the size of a moon.

You're kidding me. Like that could do MUCH damage.

Okay, an understatement, but, IMHO, I doubt a bomb that small (and it is one of the wakest bombs ever) can blow the core, unless there's a "God is my co-pilot" bumper sticker slapped onto it. ANd that's if such a thing works.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2002-09-04 10:32pm

In RotJ, the core appears to be kilometers in diameter. The nuke would have to be right next to the "critical points" to damage the DS.

Admiral Drason · Post by **Admiral Drason** » 2002-09-04 10:44pm

I doubt that It would kill very many people since it seems that most of the crew would be near the serfice. Since the Death Star has only a million crew I doubt that there would be very close to the blast

NieA_7 · Post by **NieA_7** » 2002-09-05 01:11am

The point is.....

... the bomb will not work, unless it is as close to the VERY Core of the Death Star itslef.

Even if its about a few kilometers from it, the small nuke wouldn't work.

Even Luke's firepower in A New Hope had a lot more power than the bloody hiroshima bomb !

So, ideally, if you want to blow up the Death STar with a simple Little Boy, or Fat Man bomb, you have to actually place it at the dead centre, and nowhere else.

Only then would it work.

(A weird idea, but, even so, the nuke could actually give MORE power to the Death Star. Just a werid idea, and don't take it seriously.)

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-09-05 01:15am

It would only even have a chance of working if it was actually in the reactor core. Otherwise it would do some damage to the station, but not damage any critical systems or do serious damage to multiple decks.

NieA_7 · Post by **NieA_7** » 2002-09-08 01:14am

Master of Ossus wrote:It would only even have a chance of working if it was actually in the reactor core. Otherwise it would do some damage to the station, but not damage any critical systems or do serious damage to multiple decks.

And that's my point. It'd have to be at least 500m or less within the dead centre of the Death Star. Otherwise, there woulddn't be much impact.

And of course, if the bomb hasn't already imploded BEFORE reaching the Death Star, then that'd be a mircale of the creationist sort.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2002-09-11 05:46am

DG_Cal_Wright wrote:In the RotJ is described the Death Star as rocking from a Rebel assault of thermonuclear explosions generated by thier laser fire.

Are you sure? I swear it was Ackbars' cruiser that was being rocked by nuclear explosions, and I don't remember it mentioning anything about them being generated by laser fire.

Do you have the quote?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-09-11 09:13am

Its in referance to the Flak bursts of HTL. They are more or less a giant plus of heat and energy when in flak mode

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2002-09-12 12:33am

Well if Sheridan was the said person then by-by Death Star!

This trolling post was brought to you by Crown, for all your trolling needs, trust Crown.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-09-12 02:09am

Crown wrote:Well if Sheridan was the said person then by-by Death Star!

This trolling post was brought to you by Crown, for all your trolling needs, trust Crown.

Class VIX Troll, range 5 miles, Flame Flight engage!

Anti toll munitions selected, launch two!

Troll eliminated.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2002-09-12 03:53am

If you somehow don't destroy the station, then you would at least cripple it in some way. Mind you, there is shockwave damage to consider from the blast and the intense heat on much of the internal compnents.

We could probably get an idea of the effects of a nuclear explosion if we are able to reference the live underground nuclear tests that have been conducted a few years (decades) back.

And with that in mind, the DS does not consist of solid space; you will have far less resistance to blast form the inside out than from the outside in-unless it was near the core (or at the core).

My question: Does the core consist of empty space with no atmosphere or pressure of any kind other than superstructure? If so, that could increase the DS survivability depending on where the bomb was placed.

My 0.02 cents.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2002-09-12 10:04am

Ummmm Sea Skimmer, not that I am an expert in Roman numerals, but what number is VIX meant to be? Don't you mean XVI for 16? 'Cause what you wrote just don't make sense....

P.S. I like the pics!!!

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-09-12 03:16pm

Crown wrote:Ummmm Sea Skimmer, not that I am an expert in Roman numerals, but what number is VIX meant to be? Don't you mean XVI for 16? 'Cause what you wrote just don't make sense....

P.S. I like the pics!!!

My methods for classifying trolls don’t make sense, just like the trolls themselves.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2002-09-12 04:46pm

Admiral Drason wrote:I doubt that It would kill very many people since it seems that most of the crew would be near the serfice. Since the Death Star has only a million crew I doubt that there would be very close to the blast

A million crew? Thats like 16 people per square kilometer assuming they were standing on the surface (not using the volume at all), and that I haven't made a silly mistake somewhere. 1*10^6 is far, far too low.

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