[XBob]

I am unaware of that, particularly, of any use of helium (an inert gas), period, except for testing.

helium and hydrogen atoms are so small, they leak through anything, period, no matter what the composition.

helium is used for testing equipment, most comes from Texas, and is shipped and stored in very very thick walled tanks on rail cars, in banks of tanks which look like big pipe racks. and even then they they leak. Hydrogen is made nearby in a hydrogen plant, as needed for each flight.

However, it could be. There are a lot of tanks, for a lot of things, and I am not familiar with the components of each.

[Sungirl]

I can't understand why anyone would object to pictures of the space shuttle parts OR even body parts. I have been seeing pictures of John Kennedys brains for years.

[lepton]

I am unaware of that, particularly, of any use of helium (an inert gas), period, except for testing.

Helium is used for lots of things, most particularly when they go to shut off rocket enginges. They use it to flush the fuel out of the lines as it is nearly non-reactive. If they simply shut off the fuel flow, the burn would go up the fuel feed.

As I understand, they use Nitrogen early on, and Helium when they get to space.