Google signs 60-year lease for former dirigible hangar

Google has signed a 60-year lease on a former Navy dirigible hangar right in the middle of Silicon Valley, NASA said.

The internet company would pay $1.16 billion in rent to the federal government for access to the 350,000 square foot structure, called Hangar One, USA Today reported.

The deal which was first announced on 10 February was finalised yesterday (See: Google subsidiary to take over maintenance, improvements at federal airfield). 

The hangar would be used by a Google subsidiary, Planetary Ventures LLC, for research and development of technologies related to "space and aviation, assembly and testing in the areas of space exploration, aviation, rover/robotics and other emerging technologies" according to NASA.

The Silicon Valley property, which is located three miles from Google headquarters in Mountain View, California includes three aircraft hangars, an airfield flight operations building, two runways and a private golf course.

Google plans to invest over $200 million for improvement of property, including rehabilitation of hangars and creating an educational facility where the public could explore site's legacy and the role of technology in the history of Silicon Valley.

The site formed part of former Moffett Field Naval Air Station on the San Francisco Peninsula.

The hangar is part of the early aviation history of the US.

"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, leasing the airfield would save it $6.3 million in annual maintenance and operation costs, The Verge reported.