3 Aug 2018

The Size of Deep Space Nine

The cardassian space station Deep Space 9, originally known as Terok Nor, was one of the most historically, politically, and strategically important space stations in the Alpha Quadrant during the second half of the 24th century.

"Rick Sternbach's drawings for a four-foot miniature (six-foot as built) specify a scale of 70 feet to an inch, resulting in a conceptual diameter of roughly 3,360 feet (1,024 meters)."
(drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/05/17)
  • The premise for all my deck calculations: a deck is 2,5m + 0,5m for EPS cables, power cables, ... = 3m height for a deck. Deep Space 9 has 4m (3m deck high + 1m access tunnel - The Federation equivalent of the access tunnel was the Jefferies tube.)
schematic by Doug Drexler (DS9 Technical Manual)

schematic by universostartrek.com

Cardassian access tunnel:
screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "The Muse")
With the information about the position of the decks on the station I have calculated a diameter of 986m for Deep Space Nine.

That also fits with many visual impressions from the show.

schematic by universostartrek.com
Runabout: 23,1m

The Runabout Pad measures 35,8m (with a diameter of 986m for Deep Space Nine). A Runabout is 23,1m long. On the Runabout Pad is a area of 6,35m in front of and behind the Runabout. This also corresponds to the visual impression in the series.
screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "Emissary")
Klingon Vor'Cha class: 481m
screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "You Are Cordially Invited")
Bajoran Freighter: 190m
screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "In The Cards")
Klingon Bird of Prey IKS Rotarran: 139m
screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "Soldiers Of The Empire")
Cardassian Galor class: 484m
screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "A Time To Stand")
USS Defiant: 121m
Here you can find the size calculation of the Defiant class.