Shield projectors are made for the specific purpose of providing an extra layer of defense for valuable orbital assets; such as orbital weapon platforms, shipyards, research installations and other space stations.
By focusing immense amounts of energy, a shield projector creates multiple layers of particle and ray shields around a single space station within orbit of the planet the shield projector is located on. This allows for a strong defense against both physical and energy-based weapons, such as proton torpedoes and turbolasers respectively. Having twice the power draw of a shield generator, the shield projector concentrates that energy into a shield that is twice as powerful as the typical planetary shield.
Shield projectors take many forms and sizes. The most common form for a shield projector consists of a large, circular focusing dish with smaller projection arrays along its outer edge and an emitter antenna located in the center of the focusing dish; all placed upon a massive tower. Furthermore, the shield projector is supported by control stations, from where the shield projector can lower or raise its projected shield, and multiple power generators, which provide the power that is needed for the shield to be projected.
In combination with the defensive and offensive capabilities of any space station it protects, the shield projector guarantees more time for the space stations weaponry to remove intruding forces; or at least provides more time for personnel to be evacuated.