Yes, that’s right. The classic NASA “worm” logo is back! An image of the revived NASA worm logo was released on Twitter by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as well as press release on the NASA.gov website.
NASA explained that original NASA insignia is an iconic symbol widely recognized in the world. The NASA “meatball” logo as many know it by represented patriotic American colors. A red chevron wing piercing a blue sphere(Planet) with white stars, and an spacecraft orbiting. This “meatball” logo was not easy to reproduce with 1970’s technology so the Federal Design Improvement Program introduced in 1975 a new logo, the “worm.”
Some History about the logo
By the beginning of World War I, the United States lagged behind Europe in airplane technology. On March 3, 1915, Congress founded NACA as an independent government agency in response to the perception that the United States was falling behind in aeronautical technology. NACA would report directly to the President with the purpose to catch up. But technology had evolved, and once again the US was falling behind in technology. Russia launched Sputnik. The space race was being lost.
Following the launch of Sputnik, the United States created NASA to catch up in the space race and pull ahead. In order to help spur on a wave of national enthusiasm in support of the nation’s aeronautical, a logo would be needed. The new agency set out to design a new logo and came up with various options for consideration.
The red emblem contained on the NASA logo, has erroneously been referred to as a “slash,” “vector,” “airfoil,” “hypersonic wing design,” and even as an “alternate shape of the constellation
Andromeda.” It was based on a wooden model for an arrow-wing design.
The official NASA seal was submitted with the “Meatball” enclosed within the words National Aeronautics and Space Administration and meeting the US government requirements. The logo that most people are used to seeing is just the inside simplified logo that is less-formal than the the official NASA seal. The NASA meatball is among the most-recognized emblems throughout the world.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Executive
Order 10849 establishing the NASA seal on 27 November 1959. The description of the seal in the order:
On a disc of the blue sky strewn with white stars, to dexter a large yellow sphere bearing a red flight symbol apex in upper sinister and wings enveloping and casting a gray-blue shadow upon the sphere, all partially encircled with a horizontal white orbit, in sinister a small light-blue sphere; circumscribing the disk a white band edged
gold inscribed “National Aeronautics and Space Administration U.S.A.” in red letters.
Some other small changes came when the seal was amended by the Kennedy administration. Executive Order 10942, 22 May 1961 changed the color of the shadow on the sphere was changed from gray-blue to brown under. Small details. NASA’s first administrator asked for a simplified insignia for the informal uses of the new Agency. The informal insignia would widely appear on items such as lapel pins, building signs and so on.
NASA opted to make a change in the Logo in the 1970’s. NASA wanted to provide a more contemporary look along with simplification of the printing. 1970’s printing technology had difficulties with reproducing the colors of the meatball in the printing process. The NASA logotype or “The Worm” simplified both the design and ability to reproduce. It featured a simple, red unique type style of the word NASA. The iconic NASA logotype was created by the firm of Danne & Blackburn. In 1984, President Reagan honored “the Worm” for its simplistic, yet innovative design.
Not everyone adored the new NASA logotype. Inside, there were mixed feelings. There were concerns for costs to change over and replace the older logo. Many people still liked the older logo better. In time, “the Worm” was cast aside.
On April 1, 1992, the new NASA administrator appointed by President George H. W. Bush, Daniel S. Goldin retired the logo and brought back “the meatball.”
NASA was able to thrive with multiple graphic designs. There was a place for both the meatball and the worm. However, in 1992, the 1970s brand was retired – except on clothing and other souvenir items – in favor of the original late 1950s graphic.
April 3, 2020, Jim Bridenstine NASA Administrator announced the return of the iconic NASA logotype. On the Falcon 9 rocket that will carry two American astronauts to the ISS for the first time since 2011 will be “the Worm” NASA logotype.
“I grew up inspired by @NASA missions during the era of the NASA worm. In fact, I was born in 1975, the year the NASA worm logo was first introduced. In the 80s, I had a NASA X-29 (my favorite plane) poster hanging in my room. It sported the NASA worm on its tail.”
Jim Bridenstine NASA Administrator
Selected dates in NASA history
Which do you like better? Leave a comment:
Original Logo?
Worm Logo?
Both!
Sources:
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/emblems-of-exploration-tagged.pdf
https://www.newspapers.com/image/338876095/?terms=nasa%2Bblackburn
About The Author
Bill D’Zio
Co-Founder at WestEastSpace.com
Bill founded WestEastSpace.com after returning to China in 2019 to be supportive of his wife’s career. Moving to China meant leaving the US rocket/launch industry behind, as the USA and China don’t see eye to eye on cooperation in space. Bill has an engineering degree and is an experienced leader of international cross-functional teams with experience in evaluating, optimizing and awarding sub-contracts for complex systems. Bill has worked with ASME Components, Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) for use in launch vehicles, satellites, aerospace nuclear, and industrial applications.
Bill provides consulting services for engineering, supply chain, and project management.
The original (Meatball). It has an official look to it yet upward looking as if to suggest onward to bigger things
Jim, Really like how you described the NASA “Meatball” logo. It is supposed to be inspirational. Thank you for your comment. Let us know if there are any other topics that you would like us to review or do a story on.