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Escape pod

<Escape pod

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Escape pod

Production information

Manufacturer

Corellian Engineering Corporation^[1]

Model

Escape pod^[1]

Technical specifications

Height/depth

Usually around 10meters but varies by design^[2]

Shielding

Rated 20SBD^[1]

Hull

Rated 9RU^[1]

Crew

1-6^[1]

"Time to abandon ship!"

―General Grievous^[3]

Escape pods, also known aslife pods,repair pods, orlifeboats, were small escape craft for use in emergencies. They were standard aboard alldeep-space starships.

Characteristics[]

"Are you sure this thing is safe?"

―C-3PO^[4]

While there were as many different types of escape pods as there were starships, they all shared a few characteristics. The interior of an escape pod was spartan—passengers were expected to use the pod only for a few hours. Some pods seated as few as two people, while larger pods could carry over a dozen beings. Padded g-couches protected occupants from injury. Some models, like theClass-6 escape pod were designed to disallow mechanicals into the pod.^[5]

A simple piloting station provided access to thesensor, communication, and flight control systems, although the shipboard systems were heavily automated so the escape pod could land without a pilot at the controls. Sensors provided atmosphere as well as radiation and gravitational information about nearbyplanets, and a limited comm transceiver scanned for activity on standard communication frequencies. Emergency homing beacons were also standard, often at least as powerful as anOmniNode communications set. Many escape pods were equipped with limitedhyperspace capability to facilitate travel to a planet on which to land.

PhoenixEscapePod-SWE — The escape pod of thePhoenix diplomatic vessel was equipped with a hyperdrive

The interior compartments carried up to two weeks of rations, including food, water, survival shelters,medpacs,breath masks,glowrods, andcomlinks. Galactic law often required escape pods to be fitted with amedkit and at least onemedpac, though many times these regulations weren't followed. Sometimes an escape pod's emergency supplies included a civilian huntingblaster. In emergencies, survivors could use the escape pod as a shelter while seeking more adequate protection.

Escape pods had simple drive systems with just enough fuel to orient the pod toward the nearest habitable planet and assist in emergency braking during landing. In some pods, parachutes, maneuvering jets, flotation devices, or repulsorlift drive units slowed planetary descent and cushioned landing. Some escape pods deployedcrash foam to prevent compressive liquefaction during hard landings.^[6]^[7]

History[]

Life pods carried aboardTetan Corsairs were used by theKrath to deliverKrath war droids to the surface ofDeneba.Nomi Sunrider used an escape pod from theNebulon Ranger to reach the surface ofEmpress Teta in an attempt to rescueUlic Qel-Droma from theKrath.^[8] The escape pods carried aboardion mining ships in theTeedio system were small, simple spheres. WhenVima Sunrider was piloting an ion mining ship, she became stuck in a magnetic loop, and was forced to eject in an escape pod.Tott Doneeta rescued her, using a grappling line to reel the pod into hisship.^[9] On one famous occasion,Bastila Shan, an amnesiacRevan,Carth Onasi, and a few other Republic soldiers used these escape pods to escape thedyingEndar Spire.^[10]

The two escape pods carried aboardConsular-class space cruisers carried 8 passengers each and could only be activated from the inside. Luxury life pods used aboard theAurorient Express carried many more luxury features such as entertainment, increased seating comfort and lower shock.^[11] An escape pod was used byAayla Secura to escapeHavor's spacecraft before it was destroyed by aKiffar Guardian vessel. The crew of the Guardian vessel logged in the escape pod and allowed it to land onKiffex, since its passenger would have been sent there anyway for violating restricted space.^[12]

The escape pods aboardDrama Korr's space yacht were equipped with four thrusters and a viewport.Anakin Skywalker trickedDurge into one of the pods and then sent both pod and occupant plunging into the starKarthakk.^[13] EachProvidence-class carrier/destroyer carried numerous escape pods. In19 BBY,General Grievous prematurely released the pods of the disabledInvisible Hand in an attempt to doomAnakin Skywalker,Obi-Wan Kenobi, andPalpatine to death.^[3]

AoRCR Chptr X The Galaxy — Escape pods entering a planet's atmosphere

TheTantive IV carried eight six-beingClass-6 escape pods, all very simple in construction. Explosive separator charges ejected such pods away from the ship, and the escape pod'sdistress beacon was automatically activated upon launch, although theastromech droid R2-D2 deactivated the distress beacon on his escape pod just before touchdown onTatooine in order to throw offImperial pursuit.^[4] Later same year,Janek Sunber used an escape pod to flee theRebel One.^[14]

WhenLuke Skywalker's starship crashed onDrexel, he escaped the sinking ship in one of its four life pods. The pod ejected and floated to the surface, where it was attacked byship-dwellers.^[15]R2-D2 escapedThe Wheel in one of the station's escape pods with the help ofMaster-Com.^[16] The escape pods used aboardDP20 frigates were launched from the gunship's aft section.Luke Skywalker once used such a life pod to escape13-K.^[17]