Pulse mass mines were large silver orbs developed by the Hapes Consortium. Developed by Hapan scientists based on the technology used by the Galactic Empire in their gravity well projector. The mines were deployed in space, usually during combat, to prevent vessels from escaping into hyperspace by generating an artificial mass shadow. They could also be deployed to pull passing ships out of hyperspace and forcing them into normal space.
Pulse mass mines were carried aboard Hapan Battle Dragons. Sixteen mines were carried aboard each vessel, with four mines deployable from each of the four pulse mass generator tubes. The mines could generate an artificial mass shadow for at least a minute before burning out, and in some cases up to ten or fifteen minutes in duration.
The Hapan military made frequent use of this technology and they restricted it to military use. A Hapan fleet deployed pulse mass mines during the Battle of Dathomir, a risky tactic that blocked hyperspace travel for ten to fifteen minutes.
The mines are referred to as "silver orbs" in The Courtship of Princess Leia, and were identified as "pulse mass mines" in The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels. According to Starships of the Galaxy, the mines lasted for one minute before burning out. The Saga Edition Starships of the Galaxy revises this to ten minutes, which is in line with the description of the weapon given in The Courtship of Princess Leia.
- The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
- Cracken's Threat Dossier
- Starships of the Galaxy
- Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition