Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (sometimes abbreviated to
DS9) is a
science fiction television series set in the
Star Trek universe in the
Milky Way galaxy, in the years 2369–2375. In contrast to the setting of the other
Star Trek TV shows, it takes place on a space station instead of a starship, so as not to have two series with starships at the same time (the starship
USS Defiant was introduced in season 3, but the station remained the primary setting for the show). This made continuing story arcs and the appearance of recurring characters much more feasible.