Death Star facts for kids
The Death Star is a giant, fictional space station. It looks like a moon and is a super powerful weapon. It was created for the Star Wars movies. This huge, round space station could fire a powerful laser beam. This beam was strong enough to destroy an entire planet.
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How it was Designed
The way the Death Star looked changed a bit during the making of the Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope movie. For example, the place where its giant laser was put changed. But the main idea of it being a big, round space station stayed the same. The countdown sound for the Death Star's laser came from old Flash Gordon movies.
Making a Death Star that was only partly built was a challenge. This was for the movie Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The people who made the models only finished the front of the 137-centimeter model. The image was then flipped to be used in the movie. Both Death Stars in the movies were made using full models, parts of models, and special paintings.
The Death Star in the Movies
The First Death Star
The first finished Death Star appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. It was led by Grand Moff Tarkin. The Death Star was the Galactic Empire's "ultimate weapon."
The movie starts with Princess Leia trying to get the station's plans. She wanted to help the Rebel Alliance destroy it. But she was captured and taken to the Death Star. Tarkin tried to make Leia tell him where the rebel base was. He threatened to use the Death Star to destroy Leia's home planet, Alderaan. Leia gave them a fake location. But Tarkin destroyed Alderaan anyway.
Later, Luke Skywalker and his friends were also captured. They escaped with Leia soon after. In the movie's big battle, Obi-Wan Kenobi's spirit told Luke to use the Force. This helped Luke aim his torpedoes into the Death Star's main power core. Luke followed this advice. He successfully hit the core. This caused the huge battle station to explode and be destroyed.
The Second Death Star
Return of the Jedi takes place four years later. In this movie, the Empire is building a new Death Star. It is only half-finished. Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader trick the Rebels. They send false information saying the station's weapons are not ready. They also want to get Luke Skywalker on board. They hope to turn him to the dark side of the Force.
In the movie's big ending, Vader throws Palpatine down a shaft. Luke then tries to save his father. But Vader dies shortly after. Luke takes Vader's body and leaves the Death Star. The station is then destroyed by Lando Calrissian in the Millennium Falcon.
Death Star in Prequel Movies
The first Death Star is also shown in the Star Wars prequel movies. Its blueprints are seen in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. At the end of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the Death Star is shown starting to be built.
- Death Star on Wookieepedia, a Wikia wiki
Images for kids
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The explosion special effect depicted in the 2004 Special Edition of A New Hope
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Emperor Palpatine (left) and Darth Vader (right) oversee the First Death Star construction in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
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The second Death Star
See also
In Spanish: Estrella de la Muerte para niños
