Gravity well projector

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. 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. 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.

Imperial gunners generally operated these projectors. 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.

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