Relied heavily on forced labor, including prisoners on Narkina 5 who assembled parts for the superlaser.
: Building began in space above Geonosis approximately one year before the end of the Clone Wars. The Empire used various construction modules and later relocated the station to hidden sites to maintain secrecy.
: The station became fully operational just before the events of A New Hope , under the command of Grand Moff Tarkin . Development Challenges Impact on Project Secrecy Death Star (Star Wars)
The development of the first (the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station) was a massive undertaking that spanned roughly 20 years . While the station's hull was completed relatively quickly, the project was plagued by engineering challenges, secrecy, and sabotage. Key Phases of Development
Faced constant shortages of raw materials and missed engineering deadlines due to the unprecedented scale. Relied heavily on forced labor, including prisoners on
Required complex logistics and "ghost" supply lines to hide the massive station from the Senate and the public.
: Lead engineer Galen Erso intentionally stalled development for years after learning the project's true purpose. He also built a secret "fatal flaw" into the thermal exhaust port, which the Rebel Alliance later exploited. : The station became fully operational just before
: Creating the planet-killing beam was the most difficult part. Director Orson Krennic oversaw a team of scientists on Eadu who worked to harness kyber crystals to power the weapon.
