{"id":41342,"date":"2017-07-27T15:44:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-27T19:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-429234"},"modified":"2024-01-16T14:58:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T19:58:06","slug":"symbols-of-nasa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/symbols-of-nasa\/","title":{"rendered":"Symbols of NASA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>From the wing of the space shuttle to the top of the NASA homepage, the agency\u2019s official insignia is probably its best-known symbol.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1816\" height=\"1455\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?w=1816\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The NASA insignia. A blue circle with the word NASA in white across the blue circle. There is also a red vector across the blue circle.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png 1816w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=768,615 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=1024,820 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=1536,1231 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=600,481 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=900,721 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/nasa-logo-web-rgb.png?resize=1200,961 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1816px) 100vw, 1816px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The traditional NASA blue circular logo.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The round red, white and blue insignia, nicknamed the \u201cmeatball,\u201d was designed by employee James Modarelli in 1959, NASA\u2019s second year. The design incorporates references to different aspects of the mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The round shape of the insignia represents a planet. The stars represent space. The red v-shaped wing represents aeronautics. The circular orbit around the agency\u2019s name represents space travel.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA 'worm' insignia\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg 4330w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=300,130 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=768,332 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=1024,443 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=1536,665 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=2048,886 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=400,173 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=600,260 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=900,390 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=1200,519 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s75-31690.jpeg?resize=2000,866 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA used the \u201cworm\u201d logo from 1975 until 1992.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>After it was introduced, the \u201cmeatball\u201d was the most common symbol of NASA for 16 years, but in 1975 NASA decided to create a more \u201cmodern\u201d logo. That logo, which consisted of the word \u201cNASA\u201d in a unique type style, was nicknamed the \u201cworm.\u201d That logo was retired in 1992, and the classic meatball insignia has been the most common agency symbol since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the insignia, NASA has another official symbol. If the meatball is the everyday face of NASA, the NASA seal is the dressed-up version. The NASA administrator uses the seal for formal purposes such as award presentations and ceremonies. Like the meatball insignia, the seal also includes planet, stars, orbit and vector elements.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"430\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg?w=430\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"National Aeronautics and Space Administration seal\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg 430w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/edu_what_is_nasa_emblem.jpg?resize=400,400 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The NASA seal.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA also uses symbols for specific projects within the agency. Each space shuttle crew designs a patch that represents what it will do during the mission. Some robotic probes sent to explore space have had mission patches.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1882\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?w=1882\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"STS-1 mission patch\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg 6773w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=276,300 276w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=768,836 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=941,1024 941w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=1412,1536 1412w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=1882,2048 1882w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=368,400 368w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=551,600 551w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=827,900 827w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=1103,1200 1103w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/s79-30685.jpeg?resize=1838,2000 1838w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1882px) 100vw, 1882px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Crew patch for the first Shuttle mission, STS-1.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The agency also creates symbols for major events, like the NASA 60th anniversary in 2018. Created by NASA graphic artist Matthew Skeins, the logo depicts how NASA is building on its historic past to soar toward a challenging and inspiring future.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?w=500\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA 60th logo\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?resize=400,400 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA’s 60th anniversary logo<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><b>More About NASA Symbols<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/nasas-meatball-logo\/\">NASA’s \u201cMeatball\u201d Logo<\/a><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/gallery\/human-spaceflight-mission-patches\/\">Mission Patches<\/a><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/connect\/ebooks\/emblems_of_exploration_detail.html\">NASA eBook, Emblems of Exploration: Logos of the NACA and NASA<\/a><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-feature\/nasa-graphics-standards-manual\">NASA\u2019s January, 1976 Graphics Standards Manual<\/a><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/nasa-releases-logo-for-upcoming-60th-anniversary\">NASA Releases Logo for Upcoming 60th Anniversary<\/a><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/60counting\/logos.html\">NASA 60th Anniversary<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the wing of the space shuttle to the top of the NASA homepage, the agency\u2019s official insignia is probably its best-known symbol. The round red, white and blue insignia, nicknamed the \u201cmeatball,\u201d was designed by employee James Modarelli in 1959, NASA\u2019s second year. The design incorporates references to different aspects of the mission of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":46392,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,2850,2849,3291],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[3854],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Symbols of NASA","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/symbols-of-nasa\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/symbols-of-nasa\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Learning Resources","For Kids and Students","Grades 5 - 8","NASA History","For Educators"],"dateCreated":"2017-07-27T19:44:00Z","datePublished":"2017-07-27T19:44:00Z","dateModified":"2024-01-16T19:58:06Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Symbols of NASA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/symbols-of-nasa\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2017-07-27T19:44:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Learning Resources,For Kids and Students,Grades 5 - 8,NASA History,For Educators\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":2,"time_ago":"7 years","featured_image":{"id":46392,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nasa-60th-sm.jpg","title":"nasa-60th-sm","alt":"NASA 60th logo","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41342"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41342"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":594323,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41342\/revisions\/594323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41342"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=41342"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=41342"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}