Google: First Search Engine on the Moon
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Written By Kate Zimmermann | December 19, 2006 | Share This
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Google and NASA have teamed up to expand Google’s 3D maps to outer space (I guess “Earth” is an outdated title). The Moon, Mars, live satellite weather data, and other NASA images will soon be available online, enabling everything from space tourism to real-time weather tracking. This isn’t Google’s first foray into Moon Mapping — last year Google launched a 2D map of the Moon that lets users zoom in on NASA’s satellite photos. The new moon maps will theoretically be an expansion of this, offering a three-dimensional tour of the Moon’s surface.
Though NASA already offers digital space images on its website, Google will expand the agency’s resources to a broader public. Chris C. Kemp, director of business development at NASA, told the New York Times, “Part of the message here is that we are open for business.” NASA reports that they are openly soliciting partnerships with the private sector to encourage funding and innovation (and publicity!).
For Google, the deal with NASA will provide a higher level of technical expertise and data that will enhance its computational strength. In addition to creating stunning public archives of space, Google and NASA plan to collaborate on cognitive modeling problems for human computer interaction and search products for science data.
Most importantly though, the deal will generate greater public interest in space exploration and science. The integration of Google’s search technology with NASA’s rich database is a really cool example of how search can increase the value of information by making it more accessible.
Topics: Google |