Starship

The advent of the dual-drive system made it possible to traverse interstellar distances. To break free of a planet's gravity well, starships employed sublight drives, and to journey between stars at speeds exceeding light speed, they used the hyperdrive.

Determining the path to a star system was an undertaking of great complexity. A navigation computer or an astromech droid was typically tasked with performing the calculations required for light speed travel.

The ion engine was a frequently used sublight drive that had a high power-to-weight ratio and saw use in Imperial TIE fighters and Star Destroyers.

Some spacecraft had laser cannons, turbolaser batteries, or missile-launching systems installed. Some had deflector shields that could withstand the effects of laser weapons, protecting the ship from attacks and collisions with asteroids. Larger ships also served as carriers, moving many fighters into battle.

A lone pilot, perhaps with an astromech droid as a co-pilot, could operate a small, single-seat fighter, like the X-wing starfighter. Massive ships such as the Super Star Destroyers required thousands of people to operate, who were in charge of continuous maintenance and operations. In moments of critical emergency, these Super Star Destroyers could function with just a skeleton crew (the absolute minimum needed to keep all systems working) until a larger crew could be assembled. Larger ships also featured a bridge, which served as the central control point.

• Yacht — A fancy ship often used by wealthy people, diplomats, or politicians.
• Starfighter — A compact ship for one or two people, typically used for dogfighting.
• Bomber — A slower type of ship that is armed with bombs.
• Scout vessel — A swift, small ship used to survey an area ahead of the main fleet.
• Transport — A vehicle designed to carry passengers or cargo.
• Shuttle — A small vehicle used for moving people, often partly through space.
• Gunship — Used in battles in space or in the atmosphere.
• System patrol craft — Used for operations within a star system, and usually without hyperdrives.
• Freighter — A ship that carries cargo or freight.
• Capital ship — The largest class of starships, often used as warships.
• Space station — An artificial structure intended for operation in orbit or in the vastness of space.