Spaceport / Legends A spaceport or starport was a site for launching and receiving spacecraft . History . Depending on the customs procedures of the world , the spaceport could be orbital or planetside . Some planetary governments did not allow foreign spacecraft to enter the upper atmosphere and required visitors to dock their starships at an orbital spaceport , traveling to the surface using official transportation . In Herglese , the term for a spaceport was " shan - pakk " . Due to the influence of Herglic trading in the Tapani sector , this term was widely used throughout the sector . The Galactic Republic built a spaceport on the planet Tatooine to profit from the Outer Rim trade . However , it was destroyed by the Separatists under General Sev ' rance Tann . Classification system . A spaceport could service multiple spacecraft in an official capacity and was open to any civilian vessel with proper clearance . In contrast , a landing pad was a private facility , typically capable of servicing one spacecraft at a time . There were five different classes of starports , describing the magnitude of the landing facilities , the availability of goods and services and the amount of security . The classification system was maintained by the Space Ministry , which inspected and certified starports . The system was devised by the Galactic Republic and taken over with minimal change with the ascension of the Galactic Empire . These classes were not absolute , but more generalizations . Costs , fees and availability of goods often depended on the local star system ' s economy , the state of the starport ' s administration and the funding , legal or otherwise . For example , those starports subsidized by the Imperial Navy often had lower costs . Also , different personalities of Imperial Customs officers and starport personnel and different local practices made each location unique . Landing Field . Often nothing more than a leveled area of dirt or duracrete , this kind of " starport " had little to no services or flight control , often not even a beacon . What was available was often affordable by the average spacer , but lacked in quality . Limited Services . Limited Services included a control tower with landing beacon , small sheds with docking , storage and maintenance areas for only the most primitive repairs . Often nearby areas were used as landing fields if the starport was full . Supplies and goods had to be purchased from outside the port . Standard Class . These starport had fully staffed and equipped flight - control centers and on - site restocking services . The starport had a small shipyard and was capable of minor repairs and modifications . Costs for these services could go up to double the normal price and took twice as long to finish . Quality ranged from mediocre to very good . Stellar Class . Stellar Class starports had landing and docking for nearly any kind of vessel . Shipyards and repair facilities surround the port and were capable of any repair job or modification , assuming that the customer was willing to pay . The quality of service was very good and affordable . Stellar Class starports often had a Customs office on site and a large Navy presence in the system . Republic Class / Imperial Class . Republic or Imperial Class starports were the most luxurious and modern starports in the galaxy . Originally named Republic Class during the days of the Republic , they were renamed Imperial Class during the reign of the Galactic Empire . A wide array of docking facilities and the most lavish and advanced amenities and servieces were available for spacers . The system ' s companies and merchants had offices directly at the starport . A captain often didn ' t even need to leave the port to conduct all of his or her business . Customs offices were often staffed by highly competent officers , and the government kept a high presence at these ports . Troublemakers , such as smugglers , could expect thorough searches and checks and to feel the full extent of the law . Spaceport types . Wookiee . The spaceports used by Wookiees primarily utilized Wookiee - based architecture , and also had a plated dish rather than a circular dish tower . Gungan . Gungan spaceports were primarily white with several odd structures . They had two hangars within the main white building . Sando HoverFreighter s were frequently used to load things on and off the vessels . Royal Naboo Security Forces . The spaceports used by the Royal Naboo Security Forces utilized the typical Naboo architecture . In addition , similar to the later Rebel Alliance variant , the satellite dish had a smooth , bowl shape . Trade Federation . Similar to the later Imperial Spaceport s , the Trade Federation ' s spaceports during the Invasion of Naboo generally had a large satellite - dish array as well as a storage hangar . They also had an underground hangar used to launch large - scale starships . Neimoidian trader vessels were known to frequent this location to exchange materials for nova crystals . Grand Army of the Republic . The Grand Army of the Republic ' s spaceport design was primarily prismatic with some cyan touches , a garage , and an open hangar , as well as a four - pronged circular satellite dish . Separatists . Mostly due to its original headquarters being on Geonosis , the Separatist spaceports were generally modeled after the caves of Geonosis . Unlike other spaceports used by various factions , it completely lacked a dish , although it did possess a spherical dome jutting out of the right side that eventually grew upon the spaceport ' s completion . Galactic Empire . During the Galactic Civil War , Imperial - owned spaceports generally had a large satellite - dish array as well as a storage hangar guarded by a turret . They also had an underground hangar used to launch large - scale starships . Imperial Cargo Traders were known to frequent this location to exchange materials for nova crystals . Kile II had such an Imperial spaceport before it was destroyed by Rogue Squadron . Alliance to Restore the Republic . The Rebel Alliance variant was slightly similar in design to the Imperial variant . However , it had red colorings , and a basic dish tower instead of a spiked dish tower . In addition , the underground hangar was of a slightly different shape .