Google goes Extraterrestrial with NASA

Internet Search Giant has announced plans to team up with NASA to do space-age research at a complex of up to 1 million square feet on NASA-owned property adjacent to Moffett Field near Mountain View.

The two have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), that outlines plans for co-operation in a variety of areas, including large-scale data management, massively distributed computing, bio-info-nano convergence and encouragement of the entrepreneurial space industry.

Google and NASA have provided a few details of what the collaboration could result in. "Imagine having a wide selection of images from the Apollo space mission at your fingertips whenever you want it. That’s just one small example of how this collaboration could help broaden technology’s role in making the world a better place," said Google’s chief executive and silicon.com Agenda Setter, Eric Schmidt.

While Ames Center Director G. Scott Hubbard and Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt have both touted the mutual benefits of the partnership, others are still struggling to make sense of it and are questioning what it means for investors, taxpayers and the space program. The news comes on the heels of NASA chief Michael Griffin’s startling admission that the manned space shuttle and International Space Station projects have been misguided for decades.

"Competitive advantage occurs because we have access to the best minds and smartest people," Google CEO Eric Schmidt said at a press conference where he and Ames Director Scott Hubbard signed an agreement with lighted NASA pens. "We have the reach and the network resources that NASA does not. They have the science, content and the mission to serve all of us.

"There should be lots of interesting job opportunities because of the collaboration" with NASA, he said.

The company will keep its current locations and continue to lease offices elsewhere. Google leased 915,000 square feet at its headquarters and has offices in 35 cities around the world, according to its annual filing. The company had 3,021 employees as of December, up from 1,628 a year earlier.

Other technologies that are likely to be on the wish list of space enthusiasts include an extension to Google Earth to cover other planets, or even the entire solar system.