Deep Space Nine was built by Bajorans working for the Cardassians. Its original name was Terok Nor. Under the Cardassians, its major function was an ore processing plant. Lives for the Bajorans on Terok Nor was hard.

The Cardassians left it in 2369. The Bajoran Provisional Government took it over. Bajor turned to the United Federation of Planets. Starfleet took over the administration of Terok Nor, renaming it Deep Space Nine. After Starfleet took over, the station was refit to repair damaged Cardassian systems and upgrade others.

Deep Space Nine was rearmed due to the threat of a Dominion attack in early 2371. Deep Space Nine was lost to the Dominion in late 2373. A few months later, Starfleet retook the station.