Star Wars: The Old Republic Space Combat Overview

To go along with the space combat trailer and starship holonet updates they've released recently, BioWare and LucasArts have posted a quick overview of how space combat, missions, and exploration will be handled in Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Whether undertaking faction-based missions involving epic space battles or simply cruising through one of the galaxy's "hot spots", the Space Combat experience drops your starship right into the action. You'll be put on a direct course towards your objective and you'll maneuver your ship through obstacles and deal with enemies that cross your path. It's truly a 'combat' experience.

Your final objective in the mission could be escorting a friendly shuttle to safety or even destroying an enemy battle cruiser. As your character's level increases, you'll be challenged with more difficult and more complex space combat missions, and the stakes will only get higher. By succeeding in these missions, you'll obtain rewards that will be useful in other aspects of the gameplay experience.