How the Death Star Works

The Howstuffworks website has come up with another gem. Following their explanation of how the lightsaber works, this time, they're looking at the ultimate weapon of destruction, the Death Star. It's an educational read, especially if you're a Star Wars geek with a sense of humour and may think of living on the Death Star one day.

Tours on the Death Star last at least 180 days and usually much longer. Personnel are often in deep space without leave for months at a time, and since the location of the Death Star is always classified, contact with family or friends is strictly prohibited. This can make life on the Death Star very difficult. To ease the burden of this duty the station is outfitted with many civilian amenities. The general sector of each zone in the Death Star has a park, shopping centers and recreation areas that include restaurants, a cinema and fitness centers.