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A comment on For Sale: Balloon Rides to Near-Space for $75,000 a Seat. Parent comment

Re:For Sale: Balloon Rides to Near-Space for $75,000 a Seat by rthomas6 on Wednesday October 23, 2013 @10:04AM (#6598772)
>The federal government, which sets helium prices

What. Why?

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Re:For Sale: Balloon Rides to Near-Space for $75,000 a Seat by tanzam75 on Wednesday October 23, 2013 @11:58AM (#6599512)
Helium is considered a strategic resource.

Going as far back as the 1930s, when it was restricted because of its scarcity and use in naval airships. For example, the United States refused to sell helium to Nazi Germany -- which is why the airship Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen.

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Re:For Sale: Balloon Rides to Near-Space for $75,000 a Seat by hedgie13 on Wednesday October 23, 2013 @11:01AM (#6599123)
Well, turns out there is Federal Helium reserve:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/energy/helium/federal_heliu...

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