Executive docking bay

Executive docking bays are hangar bays on the Death Stars that were reserved for high-ranking Imperial officers and visiting dignitaries. Because of their status, the executive docking bays, located in the equatorial trenches of the Death Stars, were extremely expansive and more heavily reinforced than the hangar bays used by typical Imperial transports and starships. The executive docking bays were also outfitted with additional energy-shield generators, tractor-beam projectors, and laser cannons emplaced in and around the trench walls to ensure trouble-free arrivals and departures. In addition, all surface areas within the bay were kept spotless and free of dust by small droids that were equipped with micro-cleaning systems.

Like other Death Star docking bays, the executive bays had openings that appeared to be exposed to the vacuum of space. The openings were protected by powerful magnetic fields, which maintained the atmosphere within the bays. However, the fields could be manipulated in intensity to allow starships to enter and exit the bays. The bays could also be sealed with blast doors to form vacuum-worthy seals to retain station atmosphere integrity, which are activated by bay control crews if they anticipate the arrival of a vessel with a damaged shield or engine, which also have all personnel evacuate the bay save for those in protective gear.

The largest executive docking bays, such as Hangar 272 on the Death Star II, was constructed and specifically reserved for arrivals by Emperor Palpatine, and were large enough to accommodate hundreds of troops for arrival ceremonies. Near the Emperor's bay on both Death Stars were smaller executive bays reserved for Darth Vader. In both instances, these executive bays were made specifically for receiving and deploying Lambda-class T-4a shuttles.

Appearances

 * ''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi novelization
 * Star Wars Epsiode VI: Return of the Jedi PhotoComic
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi junior novelization