Google signs $1.16 billion deal with NASA

(Image credit: NASA Ames/Dominic Hart)

last updated 8 January 2015

Google's $1.16 billion deal with NASA will allow the tech company to lease NASA's Moffett Airfield in northern California for the next 60 years.

Google will also give NASA $200 million to improve the property, including restoration of the 80-year-old Hangar One. Google will be able to use Hangar One, along with two other hangars, for robotics development and space exploration. Negotiations for Google to use the 1,000-acre airfield began in February.

"As NASA expands its presence in space, we are making strides to reduce our footprint here on Earth," NASA administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement. "We want to invest taxpayer resources in scientific discovery, technology development and space exploration — not in maintaining infrastructure we no longer need." According to NASA, the deal with Google will save it $6.3 million a year in maintenance costs.