Accelerator

"We are finished for now, Kaz. I believe the accelerator will hold—unless it explodes."

―Neeku Vozo^[3]

An accelerator was a component in starships, speeders, and speeder bikes that allowed them to accelerate. They could be found in TIE/ln space superiority starfighters and the YT-1300 light freighter known as the Millennium Falcon, both of which were utilized on separate occasions by the pilot Han Solo. They were also utilized for repairs in Jarek Yeager's Repair Station on the supertanker fuel depot Colossus.

Description

"Okay. It's like popping a regulator on a speeder. Maybe? Pump the accelerator, juice the motivator and then…"

―Han Solo^[2]

An accelerator was a component of a starship,^[1] speeder,^[2] or speeder bike that allowed it to accelerate.^[3] Accelerators could be found in TIE/ln space superiority starfighters,^[2] and they were also equipped on the YT-1300 light freighter known as the Millennium Falcon.^[1]

History

"Chewie, prime the accelerators. Hurry."
"Arrgh."
"Don't argue, furball. I know what I'm doing."

―Han Solo and Chewbacca^[1]

Han Solo and Chewbacca used the Millennium Falcon's accelerators during the Dragon Void Run. — Han Solo and Chewbacca used the *Millennium Falcon's* accelerators during the Dragon Void Run.

In 13 BBY,^[4] Imperial pilot cadet Han Solo pumped his TIE/ln space superiority starfighter's accelerator during a traning exercise in order to prevent himself from crashing, surmising it would have the same outcome as doing the same thing in a speeder. This act was ultimately futile, though he was still saved by fellow cadet Kanina Nico.^[2] Solo would again use accelerators^[1] in 0 ABY^[5] during the Dragon Void Run race. After briefly being apprehended by the Galactic Empire, Solo and the other pilots were released and began the race once again. Though he briefly pondered leaving the race and completing his mission to rescue undercover Alliance to Restore the Republic spies, Solo instead decided to continue the race and ordered his partner, Chewbacca, to prime the Millennium Falcon's accelerators.^[1]

In 34 ABY,^[6] the mechanics Tamara Ryvora, Neeku Vozo, and Kazuda Xiono repaired a speeder bike with an accelerator in Jarek Yeager's Repair Station on the supertanker fuel depot Colossus, which was itself present on^[3] the planet^[7] Castilon. Vozo concluded that the accelerator's installation concluded the trio's work, though he commented that it could be upended should the accelerator explode.^[3]

Behind the scenes

Accelerators were first mentioned in the third issue of the 2016 comic book miniseries Star Wars: Han Solo, which was published on August 31, 2016.^[8] In real life, an accelerator, also known as a gas pedal or throttle, is a device used to increase or decrease power—and thus acceleration—for a vehicle.^[9]