Orbital Solar Energy Transfer Satellite An Orbital Solar Energy Transfer Satellite ( also known as an Orbital Mirror , Mirror Station and Solar Mirror ) was essentially a large mirror used to focus warmth and sunlight from Coruscant ' s tiny sun on the planet ' s extreme northern and southern latitudes , warming the environment by a few degrees to make more of the land area on the ecumenopolis habitable . These space stations would be used by the Galactic Republic , Galactic Empire and the New Republic . Overview . The stations were very large , though most of the size was due to the mirror which surrounded a small guidance station in which the OSETS ' caretaker was stationed . The mirror was a large piece of reflective fabric that was a fraction of a millimeter thick . It was connected to dozens of cables which were in turn attached to attitude control rockets . Depending on how much freedom was given to the staff of the station , the mirrors could be controlled from there if something went wrong . The interior of the guidance station was incredibly dark and cramped . Its ceilings and walls were covered with exposed piping and wiring . In the center of stations that were maintained by a solitary caretaker , a single chair was situated in the middle of an observation bubble which looked down upon the planet . The caretaker ' s duty was to monitor the solar path and to make adjustments if the station ' s near - obsolete computers did not perform the task for which they were built . Depending upon their size , the stations were operated either by crews of a few individuals or shifts of solitary caretakers whose job it was to remain prepared for emergencies that rarely occurred . " Riding the mirrors " as the task of the caretakers was commonly known was considered to be one of the worst possible jobs available . History . During the Imperial era the stations were operated by low - ranking Imperial Navy staff as well as stormtroopers who were being punished for insubordination . When the Empire was replaced by the New Republic , the job was just as dismal . They were still operated by low - ranking personnel , but the stations were also staffed by well - paid independent contractors who could be called up if the officers were needed elsewhere . Despite the amount that one was compensated , the conditions aboard the stations had a tendency to wreak havoc on the sanity of those assigned to them . In the face of bureaucracy and lack of funding , the few comforts that the stations were equipped with would malfunction . However , a few , most notably Virar Needa , considered riding the mirror to be a noble duty . He spun a cocoon of self - delusion that allowed him to perform his menial assignment with the utmost efficiency and enthusiasm . For example , while most OSETS officers would shirk the task of maintaining traffic observation logs , Needa made it his hobby . In 7 ABY , when the New Republic attempted to retake Coruscant from the Imperials , Rogue Squadron hijacked the computer center on Coruscant which controlled the OSETS satellites and took control of OSETS 2711 which was being staffed by Needa and a few other comrades . The Rebels realigned the satellite to heat up a large water reservoir , creating a terrible thunderstorm that brought down the planet ' s shields . Moments later , the New Republic Defense Fleet jumped into the Coruscant system and commenced their liberation of the throne world . OSETS 2711 was also used to burn a hole into one of the Imperial Golan III platforms , an event which helped reduce casualties on both sides . OSETS 2711 survived the battle . The New Republic would continue to use the stations , though it had allowed conditions to worsen for caretakers . In 23 ABY , Jedi trainees Jaina Solo , Lowbacca , and a caretaker named Peckhum used a solar mirror to burn out the " Shadow Academy " ' s cloaking device , exposing it to the New Republic fleet . However , the station powered its hyperdrive and escaped into hyperspace before the fleet could inflict any significant harm upon it . During the Yuuzhan Vong ' s conquest of Coruscant , the OSETs were destroyed by the extragalactic invaders . In some cases they were used to destroy buildings by driving them into the surface .