StarSpeeder 3000
- "Star Tours is proud to introduce the StarSpeeder 3000. The most advanced transport of its kind in existence. With high-speed warp drive and a travel range of over one billion lightyears, the 3000 makes touring the galaxy safe and comfortable."
- ―A Star Tours announcer
The StarSpeeder 3000 was a transport spacecraft used by the Star Tours travel agency. It had room to carry up to 40 passengers. The craft were produced sometime around 4 ABY, when Star Tours referred to them as "new."[2]
Characteristics
- "What's this, do my sensors deceive me? Or are there really passengers out there? Gee, I hope the new StarSpeeders run better then the one that brought me here. What a bucket of bolts! You'd never get me on one of those things again in a billion lightyears."
- ―G2-4T
The StarSpeeder 3000s were very similar in to their predecessors, the StarSpeeder 1000s, both in shape and equipment. The craft was still boxy, with a downwardly angled front side, and still featured the usual five automated doors on both starboard and portside. With its five seating rows, the 3000 could still be boarded by no more than forty passengers at a time. Like with the StarSpeeder 1000, an astromech droid was loaded in a socket at the bow of the ship.[2]
Those transports were normally piloted by an RX-Series pilot droid, assisted by its astromech droid navigator. The ship was considered fast and maneuverable for a transport. Given the lowered risk usually involved in interplanetary tourism, the StarSpeeder 3000 was equipped only with minimal deflector shields and two simple laser cannons. However, the tour brochure indicated that the hyperdrive, or "warp drive," was fairly advanced. Despite the agency's claim that the ships themselves were highly advanced, they were often in need of repair.[2]
History
The StarSpeeders were used by Star Tours starting around 4 ABY, and eventually used during their push to capitalize on the new found notoriety of Endor at the time with the Endor Express route. After a series of mishaps in the months following, including a StarSpeeder's accidental involvement in a space battle, the tour company shut down.[2][5]
The vessels were used for years afterward by other entities, including Corellian Translines in 17 ABY.[4] Some remained in service as late 19 ABY, when many could be seen operating around the planet Di'wor.[6]
Behind the scenes
"Warp drive" is the primary means of propulsion for vehicles in Star Trek. Many early Star Wars tie-in media products mistakenly used this term for the faster-than-light drives of Star Wars ships, which are properly known as "hyperdrives."
With the launch of the new Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction at three Disney Parks, passengers ride a new starship. The new ship, called the StarSpeeder 1000, is white with an orange pinstripe, while the StarSpeeder 3000 is white with a blue pinstripe.[7]
While sources state the 1000 was manufactured by Sacul Aerospace, there is no such information about the similarly designed 3000.
Appearances
- George Lucas' Star Tours (First appearance) (Non-canonical appearance)
- Star Tours (First canonical appearance)
"Two for One" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 15- Specter of the Past (Mentioned only)
- Specter of the Past unabridged audiobook (Mentioned only)
Sources
- Complete Guide to Star Tours
"Anthony Daniels: Remembering That Galaxy Far, Far Away" – The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 1 (Indirect mention only)- "Star Tours: 'The Ultimate Adventure' is Still the Ultimate Ride at Disneyland" – The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 2
"Star Wars Around the World" – Star Wars Insider 25- Star Wars: Chronicles
"Galactic Bazaar: Special Effects" – Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 13
"Endor and the Moddell Sector"—Star Wars Gamer 9
Star Wars: Star Tours (Pack: Starspeeder 3000) (backup link)- The New Essential Guide to Droids
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Convenient Daily Departures: The History of Star Tours on StarWars.com (article) (backup link not verified!)
Disney Parks Wishables (Pack: Star Tours Attraction Series) (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Star Tours Queue Line No2 on YouTube
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Star Tours
- ↑
Star Tours Transcript on EndorExpress (backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Two for One" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 15
- ↑ "Endor and the Moddell Sector"—Star Wars Gamer 9
- ↑ Specter of the Past
- ↑ StarSpeeder 1000 on EndorExpress (backup link)
External links
Holocron continuity database questions on StarWars.com Message Boards. Posted by Tasty Taste on July 26, 2004 at 01:57 AM. (content now obsolete; backup link)