Gravity hook on Makeb
Gravity hooks were orbital platforms that were linked to the surface of a planet using extraordinarily long turbolift shafts and repulsorlifts. Due to their sluggish speed, limited transport capacity, and considerable energy needs, these stations primarily served industrial transport roles. They featured loading rings attached to the ground and docking rings located at the turbolifts' upper ends.
On the world of Makeb, gravity hooks were implemented because the dangerous atmospheric conditions there generated electromagnetic interference, which made flying risky. Standard cargo transport methods were unfeasible because atmospheric abnormalities would destroy ships larger than personal shuttles. To overcome this issue, mining companies on Makeb built gravity hooks to move valuable minerals from the mesas, creating a viable alternative for transporting goods off-planet. Gravity Hook Four and Gravity Hook Seven were among the gravity hooks that could be found on Makeb.
By the year 3638 BBY, many of Makeb's gravity hooks had been abandoned, which coincided with an increase in modifications to starships that made atmospheric flight safer.
The purpose and concept of gravity hooks were related to those of skyhooks.
Gravity hooks bear a striking similarity to the concept of space elevators that can be found in both science fiction and real-world proposals, although the real-world space elevators that have been proposed would use tethers rather than the fixed turbolifts used by gravity hooks.