Tarkin mentioned when he learned of the attack: "The original plans for the deathstar is kept there, correct?" indicating it was a backup and not the plans being used.

You wouldnt have 1 copy of a schematic of any vessel, let alone a moon-sized station. That was the original they took, which probably didnt include various minor changes but still had the main part they cared about.

Tarkin mentioned when he learned of the attack: "The original plans for the deathstar is kept there, correct?" indicating it was a backup and not the plans being used.

You wouldnt have 1 copy of a schematic of any vessel, let alone a moon-sized station. That was the original they took, which probably didnt include various minor changes but still had the main part they cared about.

It's a good thing they got the originals. Later revisions include protective covers on the thermal exhaust ports that were ultimately never installed due to budgetary disputes.

pretty sure that Tarkin knew the rebel raiding force had already been taken out.

i'm pretty sure he blew up the Scarif archives purely to remove Krennic as a rival. both wanted control of the DS-1's power. Tarkin had the authority to make his claim.. but Krennic was petitioning the emperor to have that order overturned. and with Palpatine, who knows which he would have sided with?

Krennic being on base, and the rebels being present and having defeated the local defenders in space.. it was a perfect opportunity. he could spin it to the emperor as "preventing the rebellion from taking an important facility", with krennic as a unfortunate loss.

Considering the first Death Star took 20+ years to build, it seems likely. The sheer size and volume of the project seems to necessitate it.

In fact I'd argue that it actually enhances the concept of the second Death Star because

It was likely built so it didn't have the flaw in the reactor that Galen installed.

But that's exactly what happens to the 2nd one as well. They just didn't have to shoot down a vent this time.

That says to me that they didn't actually fix the flaws in Erso's design. Or maybe couldn't because, as mentioned above, the thing was probably already half finished when the first one was destroyed.

I'm fairly sure the novel Catalyst (that sets up Rogue One) mentions other facilities. With a project the size of the Death Star, there'd be tons of facilities throughout the galaxy, and probably plenty of secondary scientists from the first one that could have been pulled in. The one that Krenic visits just happens to be the one that Galen is based out of.

In fact I'd argue that it actually enhances the concept of the second Death Star because

It was likely built so it didn't have the flaw in the reactor that Galen installed.

Considering the first Death Star took 20+ years to build, it seems likely. The sheer size and volume of the project seems to necessitate it.

It will be interesting to see if we get a movie about the doomed bothan spies.

You know this could be a comedy, you start with 1000 and one die tripping over a stair or just stupid things. Man I would love that and it would be horrible.

The first time around they have to do design work on it as well, the second time they just have to replace the parts that went screwy.

That says to me that they didn't actually fix the flaws in Erso's design. Or maybe couldn't because, as mentioned above, the thing was probably already half finished when the first one was destroyed.

Maybe that's why they use it as a trap rather than just finishing it? A working Death Star with its weakness defended is game over for the Rebels.

A workng and competently protected Death Star is totally game over for the Rebellion as a Military Insurgency and full scale rebellion.

However it doesn't end the people, it just scatters them and forces them further underground.

The Rebel Alliance becomes (or goes back to being I guess) many seperate terrorist cells.

By using DS2 and himself as a baited trap instead, he gets to end the Rebellion properly. In theory anyway lol.

The Death Star is game over because it destroys the support network the Rebels need because nobody will house them. If there are Rebels in your system you get superlasered? Rebels would end in Series 1 with Lothal being blown up. Partisans would die the way they died. Hoth? Splat.

Considering the first Death Star took 20+ years to build, it seems likely. The sheer size and volume of the project seems to necessitate it.

Indeed. If the first Death Star took 20 years to build, there's no way they built the second in 4. They probably started the 2nd one soon after the first. Because why build one when you can have two at twice the price.

The Empire surely could build a second DS in about 4 years considering its industrial capacity.

The Death Star is game over because it destroys the support network the Rebels need because nobody will house them. If there are Rebels in your system you get superlasered? Rebels would end in Series 1 with Lothal being blown up. Partisans would die the way they died. Hoth? Splat.

Yeah, when your opposition blows up a civilian planet just to make a point, I don't think many people would be interested in playing ball any more.

Considering the first Death Star took 20+ years to build, it seems likely. The sheer size and volume of the project seems to necessitate it.

Indeed. If the first Death Star took 20 years to build, there's no way they built the second in 4. They probably started the 2nd one soon after the first. Because why build one when you can have two at twice the price.

I figured that most of those 20 years was spent trying to get the superlaser to work - which is why Krennic had to track Galen down - since they couldn't do it without him.

With a working super laser design, the DS2 doesn't take as long - though I'd agree that construction could have began slightly before ANH. It did in Legends.

So it dawned on me. They steal the Death Star plans and provide them to the rebel fleet, the imps don't get them back. The place (the only place known to leaders and overseers) where they house the plans is destroyed, (Proby where our X-65 fix is) and they kill all of the leaders, scientists that worked on the Death Star. In fact the place where everyone is working on it is blown up.

So how could that make a 2nd one.............

I am not sure they are the same design.. isnt the second one bigger?..

The Empire surely could build a second DS in about 4 years considering its industrial capacity.

I am not sure they are the same design.. isnt the second one bigger?..

It is. How much bigger, we don't know yet - but given that the Forest Moon is only 4900km diameter ( Complete Locations ) it can't be vastly bigger. The trench does look proportionally thinner - and looks close to the same height as the DS1 trench in close-ups - supporting the idea that it is larger.

The old RoTJ novelization said "Nearly twice as big, but more than twice as powerful".

Superlaser design setbacks were probably what prolonged it. While the Geonosians already used superlasers in construction - those weren't kyber-powered, or on this scale.

The Death Star is game over because it destroys the support network the Rebels need because nobody will house them. If there are Rebels in your system you get superlasered? Rebels would end in Series 1 with Lothal being blown up. Partisans would die the way they died. Hoth? Splat.

The problem with that is that rebels don't just appear on rebel planets.

Lothal is an Imperial world with important Imperial facilities.

The Empire can't just keep blowing up it's OWN worlds every time a Rebel cell appears on one.

It is. How much bigger, we don't know yet

Death Star I is 120km across and Death Star II is 160km across according to Ultimate Star Wars .

It is. How much bigger, we don't know yet

Death Star I is 120km across. Death Star II is 160km across.

Originally for the new canon, yes - but some newcanon sources (Rogue One Ultimate Visual Guide, Rogue One Secret Mission) have given the old 160km figure for the DS1. We'll have to wait and see if it's an error or yet another size retcon (if it is indeed a size retcon, it would mean that the DS1's size has been retconned a great many times).

Considering the first Death Star took 20+ years to build, it seems likely. The sheer size and volume of the project seems to necessitate it.

Indeed. If the first Death Star took 20 years to build, there's no way they built the second in 4. They probably started the 2nd one soon after the first. Because why build one when you can have two at twice the price.

The Empire surely could build a second DS in about 4 years considering its industrial capacity.

"He asks the impossible. I need more men!"

Tarkin was all jacked up on boner pills and the power of a laser moon. He was just into blowin stuff up.

Plus he heard that the ex-manager of his new project was trying to get his job back. Nuke him from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

They built DSI off-book. When there's no senate to hide from DSII would be a lot faster.

Considering the first Death Star took 20+ years to build, it seems likely. The sheer size and volume of the project seems to necessitate it.

Indeed. If the first Death Star took 20 years to build, there's no way they built the second in 4. They probably started the 2nd one soon after the first. Because why build one when you can have two at twice the price.

The Empire surely could build a second DS in about 4 years considering its industrial capacity.

As stated, the Empire couldn't build ONE, in secret, in 4 years. So how was the second constructed in secret, larger, and in a shirter time? Even figuring in the finalized design for the super laser, it still requres a large number materia in terms of manpower and raw material. The geonosians were used heavily in the construction of the original, and by the time of the Endor battle, they were wiped out.

Construction droids probably played an even bigger part than they did with the first Death Star.

So it dawned on me. They steal the Death Star plans and provide them to the rebel fleet, the imps don't get them back. The place (the only place known to leaders and overseers) where they house the plans is destroyed, (Proby where our X-65 fix is) and they kill all of the leaders, scientists that worked on the Death Star. In fact the place where everyone is working on it is blown up.

So how could that make a 2nd one.............

I am not sure they are the same design.. isnt the second one bigger?..

Yes. It is not an exact duplicate of the first. OTOH, that is fact established by WEG, so I'm not sure it holds up anymore.

The Death Star is game over because it destroys the support network the Rebels need because nobody will house them. If there are Rebels in your system you get superlasered? Rebels would end in Series 1 with Lothal being blown up. Partisans would die the way they died. Hoth? Splat.

The problem with that is that rebels don't just appear on rebel planets.

Lothal is an Imperial world with important Imperial facilities.

The Empire can't just keep blowing up it's OWN worlds every time a Rebel cell appears on one.

It is. How much bigger, we don't know yet

Death Star I is 120km across and Death Star II is 160km across according to Ultimate Star Wars .

It depends on what they mean by twice the size. If they mean mass or volume that would increase faster than a surface area measurement might leave you to believe. If I remember correctly, a human that grew to double its normal height but kept the same proportions would have an eightfold mass increase.

It should note operational did't mean complete the hyperdrive on that thing could of taken a decade more but wasn't nessary for the battle of endor.

It depends on what they mean by twice the size. If they mean mass or volume that would increase faster than a surface area measurement might leave you to believe.

That's pretty much in line with 120km to 160km - a 160km sphere is just over double the volume of a 120km sphere.

It should note operational did't mean complete the hyperdrive on that thing could of taken a decade more but wasn't nessary for the battle of endor.

Given that the Empire was planning on sending it to destroy Chandrila & Mon Cala shortly afterward (Moving Target) then it probably wouldn't have taken too long to finish the hyperdrive.

On top of them having sorted all the design issues out with DS1.. ie they know how to build it now, the Senate isnt dissolved until early in EpIV. Possibly as a direct result of the completion of DS1.

A dissolved senate implies Palp has been playing politics to some degree until then. That final obstruction out of the way and he has an easier time raising funds and conscripting/enslaving workers without any checks and balance in place to hinder him.

Production on subsequent projects would be much quicker than the original DS.