Why is the US gov't selling off all of it's helium reserve? The only justification that I have heard is deficit reduction. If helium is so important to so many technologies then this seems like no justification at all. I am thinking that even a modern day politician would recognize that.
What am I missing here? Are they trying to stimulate the private sector into capturing more of it? Are they creating a shortage intentionally to increase the value of the helium that is still to be extracted from the remaining natural gas? Is it really any big deal at all?
It's a clear indication that they're not planning on building any more Zeppelins any time soon.
Too bad. It is such an elegant way to fly. I thought it would make good economic sense to use them for freight transport to inaccessible areas. Drone blimps carrying food to the frozen north.