Project Celestial Power, alternatively referred to as the Special Weapons Group, was a program initiated by the Imperial regime. Its stated objective was to furnish sustainable energy solutions for worlds that had been left in ruin due to the Clone Wars. The truth, however, was that the project's research efforts were being channeled towards the Galactic Empire's superweapon project, known as the Death Star. The program evolved from the former Republic Special Weapons Group and was under the command of Orson Krennic from the Imperial Engineering Corps.
Project Celestial Power, also known as the Special Weapons Group, was an Imperial program purported to provide sustainable energy for worlds ravaged by the Clone Wars. In reality, the project's research was being used for the Galactic Empire's superweapon, the Death Star. The program was formed from the Republic Special Weapons Group and was led by Orson Krennic of the Imperial Engineering Corps.
The Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research oversaw the program, which itself was a component of the Tarkin Initiative. The core of the program's research focused primarily on the study of kyber crystals and the potential to harness the substantial energy they could generate. Galen Erso held the position of lead scientist within this specific research domain. Simultaneously, other scientists dedicated their work to different projects, such as the creation of potent shield generators, as exemplified by the work of Reeva Demesne. The primary research operations were based at a complex situated on the planet Coruscant.
At a certain stage in the project's progression, a sister facility was established on the planet Malpaz. A team consisting of ten scientists, including the computer engineer Dagio Belcoze and Professor [Sahali], were tasked with replicating the experiments conducted on Coruscant. However, a devastating accident transpired when the containment of the kyber energy output failed, leading to the complete destruction of the facility and the loss of tens of thousands of lives among the planet's inhabitants. Project Celestial Power also maintained a research station located on the planet Hypori. There, a team of engineers under Krennic's command worked on the design and production of weaponry.
A significant portion of those affiliated with Project Celestial Power were unaware of the Empire's clandestine plans for a superweapon. They genuinely believed that their efforts were solely aimed at providing sustainable energy to developing worlds. However, Lyra Erso, Galen's wife, began to harbor suspicions. Consequently, she and her husband absconded from the Empire in 17 BBY, seeking refuge on the remote planet Lah'mu. This resulted in a delay of several years in the progress of the Death Star's superlaser array. This delay persisted until Krennic successfully managed to locate the Erso family and coerce Galen once more into assisting with the construction of the Death Star. Furthermore, scientists associated with Project Celestial Power undertook efforts to contain dark matter quintessence, even though it was not an essential component for the Death Star.