That's what I was thinking too. Seems to be an ongoing issue: (May 2022) "Helium shortage 4.0" https://qz.com/2171115/the-world-is-facing-helium-shortage-4-0

That's what I was thinking too. Seems to be an ongoing issue: (May 2022) "Helium shortage 4.0" https://qz.com/2171115/the-world-is-facing-helium-shortage-4-0 https://qz.com/2171115/the-world-is-facing-helium-shortage-4... The major uses include for cooling magnetic resonance imaging equipment at hospitals, and for weather balloons (critical data for short-term weather forecasts). However, small drones may take over from weather balloons for data collection soon. Lab research and manufacturing processes seem to be in third place. I suppose if airships can hang onto their helium long-term, it'd be less of an expense. Interestingly hydrogen though flammable provides more lifting power... maybe hydrogen-filled drone airships would be an option for delivering goods, if not people. https://www.airships.net/helium-hydrogen-airships/ https://www.airships.net/helium-hydrogen-airships/