The larger original-series fleet is more plausible because it has greater redundancy, though losing agricultural ships remains alarming. Those vessels produce food and oxygen while consuming carbon dioxide and potentially recycled waste. Sewage handling also prevents methane buildup and other hazards. Because their machinery must periodically come offline, total fleet capacity must exceed immediate demand rather than operating continuously at the edge of failure. Redundant agricultural capacity provides maintenance reserve and life-support insurance rather than wasteful duplication.
Chapter · 38:04-39:13
Agricultural ships connect food, oxygen, sewage, and maintenance
Food-growing ships also recycle carbon dioxide and waste, so the fleet needs enough capacity to survive breakdowns and maintenance periods.