Hyperdrive inhibitor

The hyperdrive inhibitor, also known as the hyperdrive cut-off, hyperdrive cut-out, or hyperdrive safety shutdown, that was a safety feature on starships. The inhibitor prevented starships from passing through a mass shadow, such as a star, which could damage or destroy the vessel. If a mass shadow was detected, the inhibitor activated and dropped the ship out of hyperspace prematurely.

When astrogation computers registered a sun, the hyperdrive inhibitor module prevented the ship from getting out of hyperspace near the star, it did so by making the nav computer program boot. It was possible, but dangerous, to disengage the inhibitor.

Text and facts from the “Hyperdrive inhibitor” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.