So why the eff is NASA continuing to stall on this obvious "win-win" private funding solution. Someone at NASA headquarters needs to lose their job over this.

I would characterize it as quid pro quo rather than a win-win. It is not a donation. It is a proposal with strings attached.

They win by getting a hangar to park their planes.

We win by getting the hangar re-skinned.

@chw: How does "quid pro quo" not equal win-win? Both sides get something. That is why it is not called win-lose.

@Steve Ly: There are two things at play here, and neiter is Nasa stalling.

First, there is the fact that the government is considering selling the base outright, and if they do that, they will not want the agreement with Google to be an issue for future development. Replying to Google's offer will tip their hand as to their intention to do that or not.

Second, if they DO decide to take up Google's offer, there are indications are that they are trying to figure out how to allow it and not look like they are giving favors to Google (a claim leveled at them in the past).

Proposal - Rather than re-skin the hanger, hang a tent-like structure from inside the skeleton, resulting in something similar to the roof at Shoreline Amphitheater. Presumably, this would save a lot of money. Moreover, it would evoke a bygone era (skeleton), with a modern structure visible on the inside, symbolizing the vibrancy of our area. The potential is huge for something stunning and arty.

Good to hear that the Navy is protecting the exposed skeleton with silver paint. While not a permanent solution, it hopefully means the hangar won't rust away while we figure out what to do. Let's do the transfer and preservation right and in a way that won't cause problems down the road.

I am totally convinced that if corporations like Google paid their fair share of taxes the government would be able to pay for this on their own. SO now Google is paying $45 million to get their "garage" repaired? It's disgusting how another public space is getting turned a private playground for members of the ruling class (read: the plutocracy).

And wait, there's more! By parking their massively CO2 emitting private jets at Moffett Field Google isn't required to pay airport fees!! It must feel FANTASTIC being one of the richest people in California while a fourth of the United States' children live in poverty and the next generation of young people are being turned into indentured students.

If the Navy doesn't want to use Moffett Field, they should give it back to the city of Mountain View.

Why not consider some type of Mylar skin as an interim solution?

@Sabrina,

You seem to be asserting that there's a connection between the Google guys' billions of dollars and children being in poverty. I would like to hear more about this connection. Because I tend to think that Google's main consumer product, Search, helps rather than harms poor people (as it also does for rich people and all of us inbetween as well).

I would prefer not to have a planes flying over my head.

@Andrew,

You don't ever fly commercially? Because if you do, you're flying over a lot of other peoples' heads, almost all of whom don't mind your flying over their heads.

Greg

Good lord. Are we still arguing about this?

Let's say Google coughs up the dough and NASA approves the deal.

The hangar gets refurbished, Google parks their plane in it.

Then what? Seriously. What are we going to do with that massive hangar? It's not like people are just lining up to make use of it. Plus there will be a fleet of business jets parked in part of it.

I say tear it down.