Nasa signs $1.16bn lease deal with Google

Nasa has signed a long-term deal with Google’s subsidiary Planetary Ventures to lease its Moffett Federal Airfield (MFA) facility in California, US, to cut costs and surplus assets.

The initial 60-year lease deal will generate $1.16bn in rent for Nasa over the lease term, and help the agency save around $6.3m in maintenance and operation costs each year.

Currently managed by Nasa’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, the 1,000 acres MFA houses Hangars One, Two and Three, an airfield flight operations building, two runways and a private golf course.

Nasa administrator Charles Bolden said: "As Nasa expands its presence in space, we are making strides to reduce our footprint here on Earth.

"We want to invest taxpayer resources in scientific discovery, technology development and space exploration, not in maintaining infrastructure we no longer need. Moffett Field plays an important role in the Bay Area and is poised to continue to do so through this lease arrangement."

Planetary Ventures plans to spend $200m on improvements to the property, including revamp of hangars and creating an educational facility.

Google may use the facilities for R&D, assembly and testing of technology related to space exploration, aviation and rover/robotics, among others.

Google real estate and workplace services vice-president David Radcliffe said: "We look forward to rolling up our sleeves to restore the remarkable landmark Hangar One, which for years has been considered one of the most endangered historic sites in the United States."

The plans are yet to be finalised with the Environmental Protection Agency and California Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The lease negotiations commenced earlier this year after the US General Services Administration and Nasa selected Planetary Ventures as the preferred lessee.

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Image: Aerial view of the Nasa Ames Research Center. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.