NASA Logo

The NASA logo is a powerful reflection of the agency’s history and tradition. It is used in NASA’s space and aeronautics programs and day-to-day communications materials with clear guidelines. The NASA logo visualizes elements of space exploration and aeronautics, focusing on the agency’s technological pursuits.

On July 29, 1958, in order to curb the growing technological threats to the US leadership, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with a vision ‘to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research’. NASA has now become one of the most influential agencies in the world, with its groundbreaking research in aeronautics and exploration system through latest scientific and space operations. Soon to celebrate its Golden Jubilee and responsible for the nation’s public space program, NASA is in the path of exploring various opportunities to improve life on Earth.

The story behind NASA logo

The first NASA logo can be traced back to 1959, when the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) wanted to create a seal, which could encompass the transformation of the committee into an agency that excels in both space and aeronautics. Hence, the NASA Lewis Research Center’s design was chosen as the final selection, which featured the Sun, the moon, the white stars, the orbital path and the red chevron with “National Aeronautics and Space Administration” encircling the image.

However, for less formal usage, the executive secretary of the NACA requested James Modarelli, the head of NASA Lewis’ Research Reports Division, to simplify the NASA logo design. Thus, Mr. Modarelli cut down the NASA logo design to just the stars and the orbital path on a blue background with the red chevron passing through the letters N-A-S-A. This revised version of the NASA logo represented many aspects of the space and its relative nature to the agency. In this NASA logo, the sphere represents a planet, the stars demonstrate space, and the red chevron symbolizes the aeronautics, whereas the orbit signifies space travel. In 1975, when the news of NASA’s developing a new and a more modern NASA logo surfaced, this NASA logo was named the “meatball” to distinguish between the other two NASA logos.

Introduced in 1975, the modern NASA logo was a stylish and squiggly rendering of the letters N-A-S-A in red color. It was called the “worm” logo. It was designed to meet the growing demands of NASA’s technological accomplishments in the fields of space and aeronautics. However, on May 24, 1992, NASA opted to go with the previous NASA logo that the agency used from 1959 to 1975. According to Daniel Goldin, the NASA Administrator, the change was made after receiving complaints from employees across the nation about the logo’s incompetence and lack of projection. Thus, the use of NASA “worm” logo was restricted and reserved for special purposes, and with the consent of the Visual Identity Coordinator at the NASA Headquarters.

From the year 1992 till date, NASA has used the “meatball” as their official NASA logo. It is considered to be a design nightmare by Greg Patt, (Graphics Manager for Lewis' Publishing Services) as the print does not appear clear in the laser print.

So, another version of NASA logo with a thin white line surrounding the blue sphere is used for certain type of prints – against dark background.

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