Shuttle Shuttles were a type of starship used to transport personnel and cargo through space , often from one starship to another or from a ship to a planet ary body . There were a number of different types of shuttles in the galaxy , including the Imperial " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle and the civilian Star Commuter 2000 . History . Shuttle spacecraft had been in use around the galaxy since at least 32 BBY . The Trade Federation , and later the Confederacy of Independent Systems , operated several different shuttle types . These included the " Sheathipede " - class Type B shuttle , " Sheathipede " - class transport shuttle , Maxillipede shuttle , and the Separatist command shuttle . The " Sheathipede " - class in particular had a remarkably long lifespan . It remained in operation with Separatist holdouts and the the rebellion ' s Spectres as late as 2 BBY , well after the end of the Clone War . In the final years of its existence , the Galactic Republic operated numerous shuttle types . These included the " Eta " - class shuttle , GX1 short hauler , executive shuttle , " Nu " - class transport , and " Theta " - class T - 2c shuttle . Darth Sidious also operated his own customized shuttle in the last year of the Clone War . Civilian interplanetary transport services , especially those operating in the Outer Rim Territories , made use of Taylander shuttle s . The " Eta " , " Nu " , and " Theta " classes all served as inspirations for the next generation of Imperial shuttle craft . The " Nu " - class continued in service for years , with the Free Ryloth movement operating a " Nu " - class shuttle as late as 3 BBY . The Taylander shuttles also had a long lifespan , with Phoenix Cell operating the type as late as 2 BBY . Saponza ' s Gang operated CSS - 1s sometime between 0 ABY and 3 ABY . The GX1s continued in Imperial service as late as 4 ABY . The Jedi Order also operated at least one shuttle type , the T - 6 shuttle , as early as 32 BBY . This class continued to serve until late in the Clone War in 19 BBY . The legacy of the T - 6 ' s design was not lost upon future ship designers ; Quarrie used the T - 6 ' s cockpit windscreen and gyro - stabilization system when developing the Prototype B6 in 4 BBY . In 22 BBY , the Ohnaka Gang operated the " Flarestar " - class attack shuttle . The New Mandalorians operated the " Aka ' jor " - class shuttle in 21 BBY . In 18 BBY , Gozetta operated her own customized shuttle craft . Around the same time , Rhyssa and Auric Graf operated a " Mu " - class shuttle in their travels around Wild Space . After the Clone War , the Galactic Empire fielded several shuttle types , namely the " Delta " - class T - 3c shuttle , " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle , " Sentinel " - class landing craft and the " Zeta " - class cargo shuttle . TIE / sa bomber s could also perform shuttle duty on occasion , and civilian shuttles like the Star Commuter 2000 were fairly common . The " Sentinel " - class saw operation as early as 18 BBY , and continued in Imperial service until at least 0 ABY . The " Delta " - class was introduced in 17 BBY and saw operation as late as 0 BBY . The " Lambda " - class was introduced later , around 14 BBY , but served until the final collapse of the Empire in 5 ABY . The Star Commuter shuttles were in use as early as 5 BBY and continued in service as late as 2 BBY . The Alliance to Restore the Republic operated several UT - 60D U - wing starfighter / support craft , which could be used as personnel or cargo shuttles . These versatile ships served the Alliance well , but all of the U - wings belonging to the Massassi Group were destroyed at the Battle of Scarif . The Alliance also operated at least 1 T - 1 shuttle , which Leia Organa and Evaan Verlaine used in a mission to rescue the survivors of Alderaan . The Alliance also supplied Saponza ' s gang with E - 50 Landseer shuttles for quick delivery of medical suppies to the battlefield but it is very good for transpoblic . By the Battle of Jakku in 5 ABY , the Alliance had managed to procure at least 1 additional U - wing and deployed it in combat . The First Order also operated shuttle craft , in particlar the " Upsilon " - class command shuttle .