<P> The first Death Star's schematics are visible in the scenes on Geonosis in Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones showcasing the early development of the Death Star prototype, the Death Star plans were designed by Geonosians led by Archduke Poggle the Lesser, a member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and is shown early in construction at the end of Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith . The Death Star plans are a central plot - point in the 2016 film Rogue One and the original 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV--A New Hope . </P> <P> A hologram from the original Death Star is briefly visible in a scene at the Resistance base in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens and used as a means of comparison with one from the First Order's own superweapon, Starkiller Base . </P> <P> In the animated series Star Wars Rebels, the two - part episode "Ghost of Geonosis" hinted that the Geonosians were nearly wiped out to extinction out of the Empire's need for secrecy . Saw Gerrera, having been sent to Geonosis to investigate, deduced the Empire possesses a superweapon and resolved to discover the Death Star as depicted in the final season two - parter "In the Name of the Rebellion ." Though it was a dead end, finding only scientists being abducted by the Empire, Saw learned the weapon is powered by kyber crystals taken from the Jedha system . </P> <P> The anthology film Rogue One focuses on a band of Rebels stealing the plans for the first Death Star prior to the events of A New Hope . The Death Star project was overseen by Orson Krennic, the Director of Advanced Weapons Research for the Imperial Military . Under Krennic's supervision, the project was beset by constant delays, and he forcibly recruited weapons designer Galen Erso (the father of Jyn Erso, the movie's main protagonist) to complete the design; nevertheless, it was another fifteen years before the Death Star was operational . The Death Star's primary laser was powered by kyber crystals mined from the desert moon of Jedha, and is first used to destroy Jedha City both as a response to a violent insurgency on the planet, and as a display of the Death Star's operational status to restore the Empire's confidence in the project . Grand Moff Tarkin assumes control over the Death Star while Krennic investigates security breaches in the design project . It is subsequently revealed that Galen discreetly sabotaged the design by building a vulnerability into the reactor . This is the same vulnerability that Luke Skywalker takes advantage of during the events of A New Hope . After the Death Star plans are stolen from the Scarif vault, Tarkin fires the Death Star laser on the base killing Krennic, as well as Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor . </P>

What is the death star made out of