Star Trek: 10 Secrets Of The Danube-class Runabout

While runabouts are clearly a staple of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, these ubiquitous little ships have found their way into other series, notably functioning as a main setting for Star Trek: The Next Generation's sixth season episode "Timescape".

As "Timescape" was produced early in DS9's run, the producers used the episode as an opportunity to amortize some of the costs of creating the new series, using TNG's budget to build the runabout's aft compartment with the intention of using it on Deep Space Nine. Though the cockpit set took a full seven weeks to design and build under Herman Zimmerman, TNG's art department under Richard James had only nine days to complete the aft compartment, which included aft view windows, a dining table, and four bunkbeds.

The impressive aft compartment set was featured heavily in "Timescape" and then... never again. Strangely, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine went its entire seven season run without showing the full aft compartment, giving audiences only a brief glimpse of a partial set in season four's "The Visitor".

Richard James' aft compartment set did see some action in DS9, redressed to serve as the guest quarters aboard the USS Prometheus in "Second Sight" and as the interior of the SS Santa Maria in "Paradise"... but never appeared on Deep Space Nine as it was originally intended.