Here's what the two camps had to say about the deal. “With this new campus, we will establish a new era of expanded collaboration with Google that will further enhance our Silicon Valley connections,” said Ames Director S. Pete Worden. “This major expansion of NASA Research Park supports NASA’s mission to lead the nation in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.”

“This long-term lease agreement is a key component of Google’s strategy for continued growth in Silicon Valley,” said David Radcliffe, Google’s vice president of real estate and workplace services. “We believe this collaboration between Google, NASA and the city of Mountain View is emblematic of the mutually beneficial partnerships that can be created between the public and private sectors.”

Google has an option to extend the lease to up to 90 years, if it so wishes. When construction begins, by the end of September 2013, NASA will retain control of pretty much everything, including approving the design, issuing building permits, conducting inspections and monitoring construction. As well as the office space, Google has plans to build "company housing and amenities such as dining, sports, fitness, child care, conference and parking facilities for its employees, as well as recreation and park facilities and infrastructure improvements for NASA’s use," according to the NASA press release. [NASA and BBC News]

To do it, Google had to blanket the city with 380 transceivers, and spent around $1 million on the project—chump change by Google standards. So for people who live in and around Mountain View, you can go ahead and stop leeching off your neighbor's WiFi and start leeching off Google's. Heck, maybe I'll make the drive over there to Mountain View and try it out myself. – Jason Chen

Google launches free WiFi in Mountain View [San Jose Mercury News]