Faced constant shortages of raw materials and missed engineering deadlines due to the unprecedented scale.
Relied heavily on forced labor, including prisoners on Narkina 5 who assembled parts for the superlaser.
The development of the first (the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station) was a massive undertaking that spanned roughly 20 years . While the station's hull was completed relatively quickly, the project was plagued by engineering challenges, secrecy, and sabotage. Key Phases of Development
: The initial schematics were developed by the Geonosians under Archduke Poggle the Lesser during the Clone Wars. Count Dooku eventually delivered these plans to Darth Sidious (Palpatine).
: The station became fully operational just before the events of A New Hope , under the command of Grand Moff Tarkin . Development Challenges Impact on Project Secrecy