R3-T6

R3-T6, or Arthree-Teesix, was an Imperial R3-series astromech droid serving aboard the first Death Star in 0 BBY. Compared to their R1 and R2 predecessors, R3-series droids like R3-T6 possessed sophisticated circuitry and a larger memory, which increased their efficiency in astrogation plotting. R3-T6 was present onboard the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin and was subsequently annihilated when the station was destroyed by the Rebel Alliance.

Biography
An R3-series astromech droid, R3-T6 was in the service of the Galactic Empire and tasked with calculated hyperspace coordinates. By as late as 0 BBY, the astromech droid was stationed aboard the first Death Star battlestation, a superweapon capable of obliterating planets. During the Battle of Yavin, R3-T6 was roaming the corridors of the battlestation and was present when Imperial Lieutenant Tanbris informed the Dark Lord Darth Vader that the Death Star's turbolasers were unable to track&mdash;and therefore destroy&mdash;the attacking Rebel starfighters.

Despite the deployment of TIE Fighters to deal with the threat, one Rebel T-65 X-wing starfighter, piloted by Luke Skywalker, managed to launch a pair of proton torpedoes into the Death Star's thermal exhaust port. The torpedoes reached the Death Star's reactor core and detonated, destroying the battlestation. R3-T6 was destroyed in the explosion.

Characteristics
Like all R3-series astromech droids, R3-T6 possessed an increased memory and superior circuitry when compared to earlier models like the R1 and R2 astromech droids. These benefits gave R3-T6 increased efficiency in plotting hyperspace jumps. R3-T6 boasted a transparent dome and a red-on-white color scheme on its body.

Behind the scenes
R3-T6 first appeared as an unidentified droid extra aboard the Death Star in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The droid would be properly identified on the "R3-T6 (Arthree-Teesix)" card of the A New Hope Limited expansion set of the Star Wars Customizable Card Game, released in July 1996. R3-T6 later received entries in 1998's Star Wars Encyclopedia and 2008's The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope