Hyperdrive The hyperdrive was a propulsion system that allowed a starship to reach lightspeed and traverse the void between stars in the alternate dimension of hyperspace . As a consequence , the hyperdrive was a key instrument in shaping galactic society , trade , politics and war . The hyperdrive functioned by sending hypermatter particles to hurl a ship into hyperspace while preserving the vessel ' s mass / energy profile , and required a functional hyperdrive motivator to do so . The vessel then traveled along a programmed course until it dropped back into normal space — realspace — at its destination . Being short - range craft , most starfighters lacked a hyperdrive . This was notably the case with the Galactic Empire ' s TIE fighters , which had to be ferried to combat zones aboard larger ships . However , the X - wing and A - Wing starfighters used by the Rebel Alliance were fitted with hyperdrives , allowing them to make long - range jumps . Upon entering hyperspace , a ship emitted cronau radiation , which was possible to detect with specialized sensor suites . Large objects in normal space cast " mass shadow s " in hyperspace , thus hyperspace jumps required accurate plotting to avoid collisions , which were often fatal . Later technologies could pull vessels out of hyperspace : for instance , interdiction field s created gravitational shadows , simulating mass , in the path of an oncoming vessel , yanking the vessel out of hyperspace . Imperial technologists developed the widely used Interdictor vessel s and their various sub - models , one of the most effective interdiction technologies . History . Sightings of purrgil , a spacefaring species capable of traveling at lightspeed , were said to have inspired the early development of the hyperdrive . Before its invention , the earliest spacer s utilized sleeper ships , using cryogenic freezing processes to preserve their original hosts in carbonite . Once hyperdrives made faster - than - light travel possible , galactic civilization flourished throughout ancient history . The Old Republic sent pioneering scout ships to explore the galaxy as increasing numbers of civilians from the Core Worlds sought a better life . Later , more advanced hyperdrives allowed even faster travel across a galaxy over 100 , 000 light years across , while major hyperlanes such as the Perlemian Trade Route and Hydian Way further accelerated galactic expansion . Advanced operation . During the Clone Wars , a high - risk tactic was used to rescue Jedi Master Eeth Koth from the forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems in orbit of Saleucami . Using the exact coordinates of General Grievous ' command ship , Anakin Skywalker precisely jumped through hyperspace , arriving meters away from his target , undetected . The same precise jumping was used by Han Solo to infiltrate the First Order superweapon Starkiller Base , since the planet ' s shields were using a fractional refresh rate that would keep anything below light speed from passing through . Without careful planning , using hyperdrive in such manner could result in the loss of a ship due to the nature of mass shadow s , but the most gifted pilots like Solo and Skywalker could use those characteristics of space to their advantage . Classes . Hyperdrives were rated by " class " ; the lower the class , the faster the engine . With its Class One hyperdrive , the " Carrion Spike " was the fastest ship in the Imperial Navy , while top - of - the - line battlecruisers such as the " Imperial I " - class Star Destroyer featured Class 2 hyperdrives . The T - 14 hyperdrive generator equipped on J - type 327 Nubian starship s was rated Class 1 . 8 . Some exceptional ships , like Nakari Kelen ' s " Desert Jewel " or Han Solo ' s " Millennium Falcon " , had exceptionally fast hyperdrives — Class 0 . 8 and 0 . 5 respectively .