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xkcd #2950: Situation (xkcd.com)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/xkcd

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We're right under the flight path for the scheduled orbital launch, but don't worry--it's too cold out for the rockets to operate safely, so I'm sure they'll postpone.

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[–] AceBonobo 17 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (4 children)

Surprisingly, if you google "hydrogen airship revival", you will find that there are many companies trying to build airships.

Since the non-flammable helium has less lifting capacity and is non-renewable and expensive, they are trying to use hydrogen safely. Good luck...

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Armchair pseudo-scientific thinking like this was why Mythbusters became so popular. They even devoted at least one episode to this very myth. Spoiler, hydrogen wasn't what made that particular lead ballon unsafe.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

I didn't particularly like that episode because they didn't do another control test and just called it a day

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The problem wasn't hydrogen, it was the thermite the hull was made out of. Helium blimps blew up the same way soon after

[–] YarHarSuperstar 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I think you accidentally put helium twice in your second paragraph. Just wanted to let you know in case you want to fix it for readability.

[–] AceBonobo 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Fixed. Appreciated.

[–] YarHarSuperstar 1 points 3 months ago

You bet :)

[–] [email protected] -3 points 3 months ago

I don't think airship travel is viable due to inability to properly steer them outside of very specific conditions, regardless of the filling. I would love to be proven wrong if it were somehow economic for shipping, but I have no high expectations.