Google continues to expand in project ideas, as NASA announced Monday that the internet giant will lease the space agency's historic Moffett Federal Airfield.
Google will pay $16 billion over the next 60 years for the 1,000-acre air base, and will make sure the zeppelin hangars at the airfield remain in good condition, according to CNET. The airfield will be managed by Google research branch Planetary Ventures.
Moffett Federal Airfield stands only four miles away from Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.
"As NASA expands its presence in space, we are making strides to reduce our footprint here on Earth," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said.
While Google hasn't provided details on what it will do with the air base, NASA said work at the site will focus on "research, development assembly and testing in the areas of space exploration, aviation, rover/robotics and other emerging technologies," BBC News reported.
In addition to investing over $200 million in rebuilding three hangers, Google is looking to provide an educational facility that will teach the public the significance of the air base's technology.
The lease is the latest collaboration between Google and NASA, with previous arrangements including the construction of a Google office at the space agency's facility in 2005, and the development of a new laboratory at NASA focused on strengthening learning capabilities of machines.
Other projects that Google is focusing on outside of the advertising realm include contact lenses for people with diabetes, 3D sight technology and technology that will allow people to live longer, CNET reported. The search giant is also working on driver-less cars and balloons designed to provide internet access all around the world.
Google appears to be dedicated to this new project, and David Radcliffe, VP of Real Estate and Workplace Services, said the company will "roll up [its] sleeves" to rebuild the airfield.
