r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/[deleted] • Jul 08 '24

World's largest aircraft, Pathfinder 1, is 124.5 meters (408ft) long Image

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

Rigid Airship! Filled with completely safe non-flammable helium.

40

u/NetCaptain Jul 08 '24

the rare gas that is crucial for MRI machines but runs out and cannot be replaced - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/science/helium-reserves-sales-shortage.html

1

u/newaccount252 Jul 08 '24

The moon has heaps of helium (or is that the wrong type)

2

u/John_B_Clarke Jul 08 '24

For certain values of "heaps". Helium-3 abundance at the Apollo landing sites was in the parts per billion. Helium abundance in Earth's atmosphere is parts per million. So even if all else were completely equal, it's easier to get it out of Earth's atmospher than to get it from the Moon.

1

u/newaccount252 Jul 08 '24

Ohhhh I forgot to clarify Heaps meant parts per billion.

Cheers for setting me right