Escape pod

"Target those escape pods! I have a reputation to uphold!"

- General Grievous

Escape pods, also known as life pods, were small escape craft for use in emergencies. They were standard aboard all deep-space starships. Some of them were fitted with a hyperdrive.

Some escape pods were designed to fly into the upper atmosphere to await being picked up by a ship, which was how Yoda departed Kashyyyk when Order 66 was declared. Some planets had a network of escape pods that could launch into the upper atmosphere away from danger.

Typically, droids never used an escape pod. R2-D2 and C-3PO used an escape pod to smuggle the Death Star plans off the Tantive IV: the Devastator's officers noticed but neglected to fire as they detected no lifeforms aboard.