Corrected entry: Admiral Ackbar displays the 3-D map showing that the Death Star's heavy defense is a shield generated from Endor. Indeed, this is why Darth Vader's shuttle, at the very beginning, needs a code confirmation to have the shield taken down so he can land on the Death Star. Han Solo's strike team, however, wished to land on Endor, the moon around which the Death Star was orbiting. There is no mention of Endor being protected by a shield; just the Death Star itself. Why did shuttle Tyderian need a code clearance for Endor?
Matty Blast
27th Apr 2004
Correction: The clearance code is to prove that they are Imperials, like calling for a password at a guardpost. They need to convince the Imperials not to blast them out of space, as any unidentified craft most likely would be, shield or not.