The Mega Colonist Ark was a development from the earlier Colonist Arks and Super Arks used by the United Earth during the Second Exodus.
The need for arks even larger than the Super arks became evident during the relocation of 1.2 million people from the former nation of Bhutan in 2158.
A team of engineers were released to develop a solution. By late 2160, the team presented the United Earth Bureau of Colonist Affairs with a prototype of what was termed "Mega Colonist Ark."
It was estimated that overall each one would take four times the material and the time to build as the Super Arks. They also were designed to use the Engine Compartments of 4 Super Arks initially (later on they would have one with slightly more power than the original combination.) A single Mega Ark would have or contain less total redundancy than 5 Super Arks, although it still would have more than a single Super Ark. As a result, each Mega Arks would carry five times the number of colonists but would have the same crew requirements as one Super Ark.
Early estimates calculated that most of the assembly lines producing the original size and the Super Arks could be converted to producing Mega Arks, These new lines would have produced more capacity for Colonists within two years of the resumption of production than those lines would have if they would have continued with their current product.[1]
The GE Super Ark shown is a 1000 meter multi module ship. The first Ark that relies on Shimmer shields rather than material for radiation protection ( saving thousands of tons of lead and gold). It is the first Ark where the
Colonist sleeper Unit can be emergency detached and act as a rescue stage module.
The Ark has attached equipment modules that can be used as additonal tanks for fuel and extended range.
The GE Super Ark lands upright instead of horizonal.
[1] Mega Arks were used in the so called Follow up Colonization program