Escape pod / Legends Escape pods , also known as life pods , repair pods , or lifeboats , were small escape craft for use in emergencies . They were standard aboard all deep - space starships . Characteristics . While there were as many different types of escape pods as there were starships , they all shared a few characteristics . The interior of an escape pod was spartan — passengers were expected to use the pod only for a few hours . Some pods seated as few as two people , while larger pods could carry over a dozen beings . Padded g - couches protected occupants from injury . Some models , like the Class - 6 escape pod were designed to disallow mechanicals into the pod . A simple piloting station provided access to the sensor , communication , and flight control systems , although the shipboard systems were heavily automated so the escape pod could land without a pilot at the controls . Sensors provided atmosphere as well as radiation and gravitational information about nearby planets , and a limited comm transceiver scanned for activity on standard communication frequencies . Emergency homing beacons were also standard , often at least as powerful as an OmniNode communications set . Many escape pods were equipped with limited hyperspace capability to facilitate travel to a planet on which to land . The interior compartments carried up to two weeks of rations , including food , water , survival shelters , medpacs , breath masks , glowrods , and comlinks . Galactic law often required escape pods to be fitted with a medkit and at least one medpac , though many times these regulations weren ' t followed . Sometimes an escape pod ' s emergency supplies included a civilian hunting blaster . In emergencies , survivors could use the escape pod as a shelter while seeking more adequate protection . Escape pods had simple drive systems with just enough fuel to orient the pod toward the nearest habitable planet and assist in emergency braking during landing . In some pods , parachutes , maneuvering jets , flotation devices , or repulsorlift drive units slowed planetary descent and cushioned landing . History . Life pods carried aboard Tetan Corsair s were used by the Krath to deliver Krath war droid s to the surface of Deneba . Nomi Sunrider used an escape pod from the " Nebulon Ranger " to reach the surface of Empress Teta in an attempt to rescue Ulic Qel - Droma from the Krath . The escape pods carried aboard ion mining ship s in the Teedio system were small , simple spheres . When Vima Sunrider was piloting an ion mining ship , she became stuck in a magnetic loop , and was forced to eject in an escape pod . Tott Doneeta rescued her , using a grappling line to reel the pod into his ship . On one famous occasion , Bastila Shan , an amnesiac Revan , Carth Onasi , and a few other Republic soldiers used these escape pods to escape the dying " Endar Spire " . The two escape pods carried aboard " Consular " - class space cruisers carried 8 passengers each and could only be activated from the inside . Luxury life pods used aboard the " Aurorient Express " carried many more luxury features such as entertainment , increased seating comfort and lower shock . An escape pod was used by Aayla Secura to escape Havor ' s spacecraft before it was destroyed by a Kiffar Guardian vessel . The crew of the Guardian vessel logged in the escape pod and allowed it to land on Kiffex , since its passenger would have been sent there anyway for violating restricted space . The escape pods aboard Drama Korr ' s space yacht were equipped with four thrusters and a viewport . Anakin Skywalker tricked Durge into one of the pods and then sent both pod and occupant plunging into the star Karthakk . Each " Providence " - class carrier / destroyer carried numerous escape pods . In 19 BBY , General Grievous prematurely released the pods of the disabled " Invisible Hand " in an attempt to doom Anakin Skywalker , Obi - Wan Kenobi , and Palpatine to death . The " Tantive IV " carried eight six - being Class - 6 escape pod s , all very simple in construction . Explosive separator charges ejected such pods away from the ship , and the escape pod ' s distress beacon was automatically activated upon launch , although the astromech droid R2 - D2 deactivated the distress beacon on his escape pod just before touchdown on Tatooine in order to throw off Imperial pursuit . Later same year , Janek Sunber used an escape pod to flee the " Rebel One " . When Luke Skywalker ' s starship crashed on Drexel , he escaped the sinking ship in one of its four life pods . The pod ejected and floated to the surface , where it was attacked by ship - dweller s . R2 - D2 escaped The Wheel in one of the station ' s escape pods with the help of Master - Com . The escape pods used aboard DP20 frigate s were launched from the gunship ' s aft section . Luke Skywalker once used such a life pod to escape 13 - K .