This makes sense in context as the station operated above the planet Bajor, whose rotational period was 26 hours. While Bajor most likely had their own way of keeping time, the show was still told through the lens of Starfleet, so the human-originated system of hours was put in place on the station.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) revised the stardate system in the 1987 Star Trek: The Next Generation Writer's/Director's Guide, to five digits and one decimal place. According to the guide, the first digit "4" should represent the 24th century, with the second digit representing the television season.
Standard days are based on the nominal 24-hour cycle on Earth. DS9, notably, makes use of the local Bajoran day, which is 26 hours, since it is a joint Starfleet/Bajoran facility.
Star Trek: 10 Things We Now Know About The Temporal Wars
Why does Star Trek have a 26 hour day?
On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a day is measured as 26 hours, which is based on Bajoran time. This is because DS9 orbited Bajor and needed synchronized clocks for communication and travel purposes. The use of "26 hours" as a standard measurement of time in DS9 was unique to the show and not a random decision.
NCC is the Starfleet abbreviation for "Naval Construction Contract", comparable to what the U.S. Navy would call a hull number. Jefferies rejected 3, 6, 8, and 9 as "too easily confused" on screen; he eventually reasoned the Enterprise was the first vessel of Starfleet's 17th starship design, hence 1701.
Due to the strategic importance of such a phenomenon, the Deep Space Nine space station is moved out of Bajor's orbit and repositioned 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the wormhole, where it acts as a gateway.
Bajorans wear large, chained earrings and ear cuffs called d'ja pagh on their right ears, as symbols of their religious faith. Before the war against Cardassian occupation, the earring also symbolized one's d'jarra.
Vulcan finger-touching was a ritualistic gesture among Vulcans involving the index and middle fingers. It was used throughout their culture, including in public as a greeting or to signify affection, intimacy, respect, or meditation. It was also used at reunions, at wedding ceremonies, and during the pon farr.
Every seven years, Vulcan males and females experience an overpowering hormone imbalance known as pon farr. Once triggered, a Vulcan must have sexual intercourse with someone or the chemical imbalance may cause insanity, loss of self-control, and death.
The franchise is primarily set in the future, ranging from the mid-22nd century (Star Trek: Enterprise) to the late 24th century (Star Trek: Picard), with the third season of Star Trek: Discovery jumping forward to the 32nd century.
Stardate Zero (meaning, The Start of History), is fixed as being midnight on January 1st 2323, the year in which Jean-Luc Picard entered enrolled at Starfleet Academy, began his career and which therefore represents the first event to occur in the newly established continuity canon of Star Trek : The Next Generation ...
In Star Trek lore, Vulcan is the home of logic, learning and the deeply beloved first officer Mr. Spock. While Vulcan is fictional, the star system it belongs to–40 Eridani–is very real. It's located only 16.5 light-years away from Earth and its primary star can be spotted with the naked eye.
That being said, the Delta Quadrant is more than its most hostile inhabitants. Star Trek established the quadrant for the same reason as the rest – to contain the wide variety of species introduced into the franchise. The Delta Quadrant is the central location of the Borg.
After the first jump, LaForge says that the Enterprise has traveled a distance of 2.7 million light years, ending up on the far side of the Triangulum galaxy, a.k.a. M-33. The distance to M-33 was very uncertain at the time this episode was made, with estimates varying between 2 and 3 million light years.
NX” stood for “Naval Experiment” (or “Experimental”) and was used for any ships that were not in standard production; this could be ships meant to be test beds for new technology, prototype ships, etc. Both were typically used for ships attached to Starfleet itself, rather than just the Federation.
The Making of Star Trek explains that USS means "United Space Ship" and that "Enterprise is a member of the Starship Class". Licensed texts, on-screen graphics, and dialogue later describe the ship as a Constitution-class vessel.
Jefferies tubes are named in honor of the late Matt Jefferies, who designed the original Enterprise and conceived an access tunnel in which Scotty had to perform delicate repairs several times.
