Google's Next Futuristic Setting: A Giant NASA Hangar in Mountain View

Officials at NASA and the U.S. General Services Administration have confirmed that Google subsidiary Planetary Ventures has presented a proposal for the use of a 350,000-square-foot hangar at Moffett Federal Airfield. The hangar originally housed helium airships for the U.S. Navy, but now it's going to play host to the 21st century version of futurism: "'research, testing, assembly and development' of new technology related to space, aviation and 'rover/robotics,'" reports Brandon Bailey.

"U.S. officials said this week they will negotiate a long-term lease with Google for a significant portion of the former naval base, including three historic hangars, two runways and some adjacent land and buildings," writes Bailey.

"The Depression-era structure is 200 feet tall and covers 8 acres. All told, the proposed lease would provide more than 1 million square feet of space in Hangar One and its two neighbors, known as Two and Three."

Before Planetary Venture's intentions for Hangar One were known, the proposed deal was called, "the only chance to restore the historic Hangar One and guarantee its survival," in a San Jose Mercury News editorial.