Star Trek: 11 Huge Comparisons Between Deep Space 9 And Babylon 5

Built in the 23rd Century, 10 years after the Earth-Minbari War, Babylon 5 was the last Babylon station built as part of a project to foster galactic peace. Financed by the galaxy's five major powers, it was governed by an Advisory Council consisting of their ambassadors and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds. Earthforce, the Earth Alliance military, handled the station's administration and defense.

An O'Neill cylinder five miles long, the station was built in neutral territory near the planet Epsilon II. The station rotated to generate the sensation of gravity and could accommodate non-humanoid species by generating different atmospheres and gravitation.

Located near a jumpgate, one of the large structures used to access hyperspace, the city of 250,000 residents, served as a port of call and home away from home for diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanderers.

If Babylon 5 was like a small city, then the wheel-shaped Deep Space 9 was a small town of about 7000. Originally built as a refinery during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, it came under Bajoran jurisdiction after the Cardassian withdrawal.

Starfleet took over station administration when Bajor applied for Federation membership. With the discovery of the Bajoran wormhole, it too became a stop-over for travelers.