: Lead engineer Galen Erso intentionally stalled development for years after learning the project's true purpose. He also built a secret "fatal flaw" into the thermal exhaust port, which the Rebel Alliance later exploited.
: The station became fully operational just before the events of A New Hope , under the command of Grand Moff Tarkin . Development Challenges Impact on Project Secrecy Death Star (Star Wars)
Relied heavily on forced labor, including prisoners on Narkina 5 who assembled parts for the superlaser. : Lead engineer Galen Erso intentionally stalled development