Project Stardust

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"This station is now the ultimate power in the universe!"

―Conan Antonio Motti^[src]

Project Stardust,^[7] also known as the Death Star project, was the project that saw the construction of the superweapon known as the first Death Star, enforced by the Galactic Empire.^[4] During the Clone Wars, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine set up the Death Star project secretly under the Galactic Republic, and only a handful of individuals knew about it, including Orson Krennic, who was determined to develop the weapon before the Republic's enemies could.^[2]

During the First Battle of Geonosis, the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus was given the Death Star plans by Poggle the Lesser, designed by Geonosian weaponsmiths. He then took the plans with him to Coruscant to give to his Master Darth Sidious.^[1] Later during the Clone Wars, Sidious acquired a massive kyber crystal from the planet Utapau which he wanted for the Death Star project. The crystal was, however, destroyed by the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, which necessitated the world's occupation so the hunt for similar crystals could continue.^[8]

During the Lothal campaign, Krennic was able to convince the Emperor to divert more funds towards his project rather than Grand Admiral Thrawn's TIE/d "Defender" Multi-Role Starfighter program.^[9]

Shortly before the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Alliance stole the Death Star plans, with the efforts of Rogue One. The plans were themselves code-named Stardust, allowing Jyn Erso to recognize them on Scarif, as "Stardust" had been her father Galen's nickname for her.^[5]

After the battle, the plans were sent to Princess Leia Organa aboard the Tantive IV.^[5] As the plans were sent across the galaxy, they ultimately made it to the moon Yavin 4 where a weakness in the form of an exhaust port was discovered, leading Luke Skywalker to destroy the superweapon.^[10]

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Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

Project Stardust first appeared, albeit unidentified, in the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones.^[1] The project was later identified in the one-shot issue Darth Vader Annual 2, written by Chuck Wendig and published by Marvel Comics in 2018.^[7]