Death Star — Concept Model

Cantwell’s original Death Star model featured a smooth sphere with the now-iconic equatorial trench. The concave superlaser dish — one of the station’s most recognizable features — was reportedly another accident: during the molding process, the top hemisphere didn’t set properly and caved inward. Rather than remaking it, Cantwell presented the flaw to Lucas, who loved the asymmetry and incorporated it into the design. A perfect example of how creative improvisation shaped the Star Wars universe.