GX1 short hauler The GX1 short hauler , also known as the Lantillian short hauler , was a shuttle model manufactured by Lantillian ShipWrights . During the Clone Wars , the Galactic Republic used several top - of - the - line GX1 short haulers , including the " Phoenix " and the " Valorous " , as diplomat ic vessels . During the Age of the Empire , GX1 shuttles were used as starbus es to ferry commuters from one location to another . Although the diplomatic variant was equipped with turret - mounted double laser cannon s , the civilian starbus variant had no weapons . Description . Measuring 37 . 28 meter s long , the GX1 short hauler was a model of shuttle designed for long , extended missions and tours of constituencies . As such , it was equipped with a Class 2 hyperdrive . One of its variants , which was used during diplomat ic missions , was fitted with a turret - mounted double laser cannon . It also had a pilotable secondary pod that detached from the primary hull and was equipped with its own compact hyperdrive , allowing delegates to escape the most uncomfortable situations . A civilian variant , which was used as a starbus for interplanetary travel , was devoid of armament and pilot ed by an RX - Series pilot droid . GX1 starbuses were also equipped with a pair of docking tube s that extended from either side of the ship like an accordion and replaced the detachable pod with a cargo bay door . History . Manufactured by Lantillian ShipWrights , GX1 short haulers existed as far back as the time of Clone Wars , which pitted the Galactic Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems . During that conflict , the Republic utilized the " Phoenix " , a red - hulled top - of - the - line GX1 , as a diplomatic vessel . It was notably used to bring Republic envoys to the neutral planet of Mandalore , where talks with the Confederacy would take place . Later in the Clone Wars , a GX1 known as the " Valorous " transported Senator Padmé Amidala , who was accompanied by her handmaiden Teckla Minnau and Nix Card of the InterGalactic Banking Clan , to the planet Scipio , where she was to secure a loan from the Banking Clan on the Republic ' s behalf . After the conclusion of the Clone Wars , the Republic was replaced by the Galactic Empire . During the ensuing Age of the Empire , a number of weaponless GX1s were used as interplanetary starbuses . In the spaceport of Garel City , on the Outer Rim planet of Garel , there were a number of such starbuses . One of them was hijacked by the freedom fighter Sabine Wren , who was supposed to deliver the power droid EG - 86 to Havoc Outpost . Eventually , the Empire was defeated at Endor . Shortly thereafter , a weaponized GX1 shuttle was used to transport Leia Organa and Shara Bey , on behalf of the fledgling New Republic , to the planet Naboo for negotiations . Behind the scenes . The GX1 short hauler first appeared in " Star Wars Campaign Pack " , a 1988 " Star Wars " Legends book written by Paul Murphy for West End Games ' " " . Its design was derived from an early concept of what would become the " Lambda " - class shuttle , drawn by Nilo Rodis - Jamero in 1981 . It became canon after its inclusion in " A Friend in Need " , the fourteenth episode of the . The name " GX1 short hauler , " however , was only introduced in canon after the ship was given an official Databank entry on StarWars . com , following the release " Blood Sisters , " the sixth episode of the " Star Wars Rebels " animated television series ' second season .