The weapon was intended to destroy planets loyal to the Rebel Alliance, as was demonstrated by the weapon's destruction of the planet Alderaan, and to induce psychological terror in anyone who may be considering turning against the Empire.Īfter the Rebel Alliance stole the Death Star's plans and ultimately destroyed the Death Star, a second Death Star was constructed years later as a successor to the original. The first Death Star was originally built by the Galactic Empire under Emperor Palpatine's orders some time during the end of the Clone Wars. As their names imply, the Death Stars were capable of destroying an entire planet with a single blast of energy fired from their primary weapon. The Death Star is the name given to two fictional moon-sized superweapons appearing in the Star Wars movies, with the first Death Star appearing in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and the second Death Star appearing in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The second Death Star, as seen in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi