Google to rent historic airfield from NASA for 'ambitious' space exploration, aviation projects

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has reportedly revealed that it is renting its historic Moffett Federal Airfield, located 4 miles from Google's Mountain View, California, to Google's Planetary Ventures subsidiary.

The announcement was made by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in a statement released on Monday.

Google plans to use the leased 1,000-acre area for space exploration, aviation, robotics and other emerging technologies, the statement said. It has agreed to pay 1.16 billion dollars over 16 years and has promised to rehabilitate its historic Hangar One, built during the Depression era, reported CNET.

The move is an addition to Google's ever increasing list of ambitious projects outside of its main business. Apart from the current endeavour, the company is also engaged in creating 3D sight technology, contact lenses for diabetes patients and conducting research to lengthen an average person's lifespan.

Moffett Federal Airfield was constructed in the 1930s as part of the surrounding Moffett Field naval base. The airfield is also home to the Ames Research Center, and was once a location for NASA's famed "Space Camp" for kids.