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The Galactic Empire's ultimate terror weapon, the Death Stars were battle stations several hundred kilometers in diameter and mounting a directed energy weapon capable of completely destroying an Earth-sized planet with a single shot. Planetary shields that could have held off entire Imperial fleets were useless against such a weapon.
The Death Star bears a striking resemblance to Mimas, Saturn's moon
Two such Death Stars were featured in the original movie trilogy, the first in A New Hope, and the second in Return Of The Jedi.
In the first movie, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker mistake the station for a small moon while following a lone TIE fighter. After escaping from the Death Star, the plans to the station, stolen by Rebel spies (according to the LucasArts video game Dark Forces, Kyle Katarn), are transported by Princess Leia (with help from Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and two droids) to Rebel leaders. Luke Skywalker pilots an X-Wing starfighter through a trench-like indentation on the surface of the Death Star, evading a pursuing Darth VaderDarth Vader is a fictional character and villain from Star Wars''. In film, he is portrayed in voice by James Earl Jones, in costume by David Prowse (for a majority of the scenes) and Peter Diamond (in stunt sequences), and his face (as his redeemed self) long enough to launch a proton torpedo down a ventilation tube that reaches right down into the "reactor core", causing a chain reaction to destroy the battle station.
In Return of the Jedi, BothanThis article is about minor races in the fictional Star Wars universe. Abyssin This species has been most often described as "primitive and violent," and are often hired as petty thugs should one travel off-world. They inhabit the planet Biss and are a no spies steal the plans, unaware that their theft was orchestrated by Emperor Palpatine, and General Crix MadineCrix Madine is a fictional general from Star Wars''. He is seen in the film Return of the Jedi announcing the capture of an Imperial shuttle and commissioning the crew, headed by then-General Han Solo, to pilot it to Endor. Prior to his movie appearance, and Admiral AckbarAdmiral Ackbar is a fictional character in the Star Wars movies and novels. Admiral Ackbar is of the aquatic alien race Mon Calamari. He was perhaps the finest military commander in the service of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic. However, unlike m devise a plan for its destruction. Han Solo leads a team to the forest moon of Endor to destroy its shield generator, while group of fighters and the Millennium Falcon piloted by Lando Calrissian fly into the centre of the ship through a narrow maze of pipes and destroy the reactor directly, rushing out in just enough time to escape the ensuing explosion.
The first Death Star was 160 kilometers in diameter; the second one was some 900 kilometers in diameter. It should be noted that earlier literature places them at 120 kilometers and 160 kilometers in diameter, respectively. However, in-movie scaling and newer references argue for the larger sizes. The initial design of the first Death Star was done by the Geonosians. They gave the designs to Count Dooku to prevent the designs from falling into the Jedi's hands. Dooku took the designs back to Coruscant and gave them to Darth Sidious.