Google is planning to open a one million square foot office complex at Nasa's Ames Research Centre, located in the heart of California's Silicon Valley.

Nasa and Google have agreed to work together on a variety of projects, including large-scale data management, massively distributed computing, bio-info-nano convergence, and the "encouragement of the entrepreneurial space industry".

The pair have also announced plans to collaborate on a number of technology-focused research and development projects.

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said: "Imagine having a wide selection of images from the Apollo space mission at your fingertips whenever you want it.

"That's just one example of how this collaboration could help broaden technology's role in making the world a better place."

The work will build on Google Maps which includes charts of the moon. Google recently hired Vint Cerf, known as the 'father of the internet' and a promoter of the concept of an interplanetary internet. 

Google founder Larry Page is also on the board of the X Prize Foundation, which supports the development of radical breakthroughs in space technology. 

G. Scott Hubbard, director of the Ames Research Centre, said: "Just a few examples are new sensors and materials from collaborations on bio-info-nano convergence, improved analysis of engineering problems, and Earth, life and space science discoveries from supercomputing and data mining."