A99 aquata breather

The A99 aquata breather, or aqua breather, also called a Jedi breathing device, was a small breathing apparatus that allowed oxygen-breathing lifeforms to survive underwater, in space, or among noxious gas for up to two hours.^[1] Jedi Knights commonly carried aquata breathers during field operations.

Description

The device utilized filtering mechanisms to separate external gaseous mixtures and relied on miniature tanks of compressed oxygen to provide breathable gas. These were generally used underwater or in other hazardous environments. They typically weighed 0.2 kgs. and cost 350 credits.

The A99 model had a number of different variants customized for use by alien species; often supplying not oxygen but an equally important gas. The antiox variant, commonly used by Kel Dor such as Jedi Master Plo Koon, supplied not only Dorin gases but also protected the wearer's face from the harsh effects of oxygen.

History

Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi used aquata breathers when traveling to the underwater city of Otoh Gunga on Naboo.

Obi-Wan would use the same A99 over a decade later, after he and Boga fell into a sinkhole abyss on the remote planet of Utapau, trying to escape Palpatine's newly unleashed Order 66.

Behind the scenes

According to Hasbro, Obi-Wan Kenobi kept an A99 aquata breather in a chest in his hut on Tatooine, notwithstanding the lack of water on the desert planet.

U.K. Concept Artist Kun Chang helped develop the look of the aquata breathers. "One idea for the breathers that everyone loved -- but ultimately wasn't used -- was that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were going to pick up a kind of jellyfish and place it over their faces which would enable them to breathe underwater," reveals Kun.^[2]

Appearances

Sources

• Star Wars: Episode I: The Visual Dictionary
• Star Wars: Episode I Insider's Guide
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook
• Arms & Equipment Guide
• The Official Star Wars Fact File 79 JED 5-6: Jedi Field Equipment
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary
• Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• The Unknown Regions
• A99 aquata breather in the Databank (original site is defunct)
• Jedi breathing device in the Encyclopedia (original site is defunct)
• Keeping the Peace

Notes and references