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A gravity well projector was a powerful device affixed to an Interdictor vessel used to pull ships out of hyperspace. As a ship could not usually enter hyperspace when within a planet's gravitational pull, the gravity well projector mimicked the effect by creating a strong artificial gravity well known as an interdiction field.[1] Gravity well projectors were first theorized by Chancey Yarrow, a student of theoretical hyperspace physics at the Academy of Carida during the High Republic Era, although she was expelled after the school discovered she had lied about using grant money in an attempt to build such a projector before she could earn her doctorate.[4] Five years after the birth of the Galactic Empire, an untested Immobilizer 418 cruiser was used to trap Wilhuff Tarkin's stolen corvette, the Carrion Spike. However, at the time the gravity well projectors were not perfected, and the Immobilizer was returned for reassessment.
Ten years later, the experimental Imperial Interdictor utilized four gravity wells to trap a rebel patrol. It also succeeded in capturing Ezra Bridger and Commander Jun Sato aboard the corvette Phoenix Home, but subsequent actions led to the Interdictor-class heavy cruiser's destruction.[5]
Imperial gunners generally operated these projectors.[6] The Watith species used a gravity well projector with a skeletal structure, it was made of metal ribs protecting a central object. The projector could be used inside a nyix-alloy freighter and could inform of an incoming vessel ninety seconds before its arrival.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
Gravity well projectors first appeared in Scavenger Hunt, a 1989 Star Wars Legends roleplaying adventure written by Brad Freeman for West End Games' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game.[7] The technology was confirmed to be canon after it appeared in Tarkin, a 2014 novel written by James Luceno.[1]
Appearances[]
- The High Republic: Out of the Shadows (and audiobook)
- The High Republic: Mission to Disaster (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- The High Republic: The Fallen Star (and audiobook) (Indirect mention only)
- The High Republic: Eye of the Storm 2 (Indirect mention only) (In flashback(s))
- The High Republic: Temptation of the Force (and audiobook) (Indirect mention only)
- Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil (and audiobook)
- Tarkin (and audiobook) (First appearance)
Star Wars Rebels — "Stealth Strike" (First pictured)
Star Wars Rebels — "Zero Hour"
- Thrawn: Alliances (and audiobook)
- Thrawn: Treason (and audiobook)
- Heir to the Jedi (and audiobook)
- Hidden Empire 1
- "The Ghost Ship" — Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down
- Choose Your Destiny: A Finn & Poe Adventure (and audiobook)
Sources[]
"Stealth Strike" Episode Guide | Star Wars Rebels on StarWars.com (backup link)
Star Wars Helmet Collection: Y-wing Pilot Databank A-Z: Imperial Future Council–Inquisitorius
- Star Wars: The Rebel Files
Star Wars Helmet Collection: Tank Trooper Databank A-Z: Saesee Tiin–Toydaria
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- Star Wars: Smuggler's Guide
- TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
"Imperial Troops" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy
- Star Wars: Timelines
- Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Imperial Interdictor in the Databank (backup link)