A runabout assigned to Deep Space Nine.
The USS Rio Grande was a Danube-class runabout, one of the small, warp-capable craft carried by Deep Space Nine. Like the other runabouts it was named for a river on Earth. It was designed for short- and medium-range missions, with room for a small crew, cargo and passengers, and it could be fitted with weapons for defence.
The Rio Grande was frequently used by the station's officers for missions such as survey flights, transport and rescue. Commander Sisko, Major Kira, Dr. Bashir, Chief O'Brien and Jadzia Dax all flew in her at various times. The ship was a dependable workhorse, used for travel to the Gamma Quadrant through the wormhole and to different parts of the Bajoran system.
The runabout became a familiar sight in the station's docking area and appeared in many adventures over the years. Though not as famous as the Defiant, the Rio Grande was an important part of the station's story and of its daily operations.