Taspan II

Taspan II was a planet in the Taspan system, in the Inner Rim. The Galactic Empire had a weapons facility on the planet, but the facility was abandoned and the planet destroyed during the Big Crush.

History
At some point preceding the Battle of Mindor, the Galactic Empire had some presence on Taspan II, in the form of a weapons facility where the Empire tested various designs of gravity well projectors. However, the facility was abandoned after an event called the Big Crush, where the planet was torn to pieces after a mishap while testing a gravity well projector. Afterwards, all that was left of Taspan II was an asteroid field, akin to the Graveyard of Alderaan. The debris from Taspan II's destruction hadn't had time to stabilize as of 5 ABY, and debris was still hurtling through the Taspan system, making it's sister planet Mindor, also known as Taspan I, almost inaccessible. The debris was later used to the advantage of Empire warlord Shadowspawn during his campaign against the New Republic in 5 ABY. Shadowspawn set up his main base of operations on the former resort planet of Mindor, hidden by the flying asteroids. During the Battle of Mindor, planetesimals in the Taspan system, including the fragments of Taspan II, were captured by the gravitational pull of the star Taspan. Remaining stations on these fragments emitted hard radiation and flares, which tore through Mindor, destroying its surface.

Geographic features
Taspan was, at one point, hospitable enough to support full staff of Galactic Empire scientists, who tested gravity well projectors on the planet. But after the Big Crush, the planet was torn apart into fragments and sent hurtling through the system. By the time of the Battle of Mindor, the asteroids still hadn't had enough time to stabilize into a settled orbit, and were still flying through the system, making travel through the vicinity of the former planet very hazardous.

Behind the scenes
Taspan II was first mentioned in Matthew Stover's novel Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor, released in 2008. To date, it is the planet's only mention in the Star Wars canon.

Appearances

 * Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor