Some potential features could be 3D images of planets, a virtual walk on the moon, or a real-time ride on the Space Shuttle.

Google is not receiving any compensation for its work, but has noted that it wants to make the marvels of space more understandable to the general public and instill a sense of fun in galactic exploration.

The company also said it believes that by making the field more exciting, it could help inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Setting Down Roots

Google's partnership with NASA was first announced over a year ago, when the search company said it would collaborate with the space agency on several technology-focused research activities.

The two entities signed a memorandum of understanding in September 2005, outlining plans for several areas, including data management, massively distributed computing, and "bio-info-nano convergence."

The initial plan also proposed the construction of a million-square-foot complex for Google within NASA's Silicon Valley research park. Still a viable part of the proposal, the shared-use campus could house laboratories, offices, classrooms, and even museums.

Details on the first efforts to come from the partnership have not been released, but NASA officials noted that the public would likely see the fruits of the collaboration within the next year.

Initial features will include static photographs taken from space, such as lunar meteor craters. NASA said it hopes later to incorporate video into the mix.

Science Project

Given the rapid pace of innovation with data search, partnerships like the one between Google and NASA are not surprising, said IDC analyst Sue Feldman.

"There are so many developers working on search technology that it translates into features that are appealing to consumers, but also to researchers," she noted. "The development being done gives companies like Google the opportunity to [pursue] more major initiatives and partnerships."

Organizations and researchers creating complex, multilayered data systems might no longer have to rely on supercomputers to tweeze out specific results, thanks to technologies that emerge from partnerships like the Google-NASA hookup, said Feldman.

Increased search capability will continue to be essential for productivity in many scientific disciplines, she added.