Vahaba 33 is all that remains of the planet of Vahaba, which according to Old Republic records, was discovered well before the Great Sith Wars. Galactic record keeping from the time period is sparse, but available data from Coruscant indicate that Vahaba "Prime" was a solitary planet that orbited a massive aging star at the heart of the system. Modern examination of the asteroid suggests that the planet met a catastrophic end when the star it orbited collapsed into a neutron star, the resulting gravitational distortion tore Vahaba apart, scattering its remains across the system.

Vahaba 33 is the largest of the planetary debris located and surveyed since the destruction of the planet, having remained out of the reach of explorers and prospectors for centuries. Unstable gravitational forces and radiation generated by the nearby neutron star make access to Vahaba 33 dangerous or outright impossible for ill-equipped or unqualified pilots. The asteroid was anchored and an artificial orbit was established with the installation of the first modern shipyard in Vahaba.

Prospecting teams were stunned to discover that under the dense rocky exterior, Vahaba 33 was mostly solid metal. Excavation crews immediately sought to take advantage of the incredible mineral wealth by establishing an extensive mining base on the asteroid's surface. Beyond an almost endless supply of precious metals, further discoveries deep within the asteroid astounded researchers.

Discovered by a mining crew, Vahaba 33 was found to have an extensive network of ancient pipes, heat exchangers, and collapsed ventilation throughout the asteroid. Engineering teams investigated the discovery thoroughly and came to the conclusion that Vahaba 33 is what remains of the Vahaba Prime’s core. It’s theorized that Vahaba Prime was likely being converted into a foundry planet, the dense liquid metal core and the rich outer crust being harvested for a colossal shipbuilding project. Such planet devouring projects were incredibly rare during the Great Sith War as the resources to construct a single Sith Dreadnought often consumed the entirety of a planet's resources, or even the planet itself.

In an act of brash ambition, Koensayr Manufacturing’s Master Shipwright ordered the ancient equipment recommissioned. Large factory cities were established over the ancient foundry sites. Restored and repaired and powered by modern fusion generators, what remains of the foundry planet has roared back to life. The core is partially re-liquefied and extracted to the factory cities above. While a massive success in production capacity, the ancient network of piping remains incredibly complex and volatile, with the occasional equipment failure sending plumes of lava arcing out into space.