3 min read
On July 15, 2024, NASA's logo is turning 65. The iconic symbol, known affectionately as "the meatball," was developed at NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland (now called NASA Glenn). Employee James Modarelli, who started his career at the center as an artist and technical illustrator, was its chief designer.
The red, white, and blue design, which includes elements representing NASA's space and aeronautics missions, became the official logo of the United States' new space agency in 1959. A simplified version of NASA's former seal, the symbol has launched on rockets, flown to the Moon and beyond, and even adorns the International Space Station.
Along with its importance as a timeless symbol of exploration and discovery, the logo is also one of the world's most recognized brand symbols. It gained its nickname in 1975 to differentiate it from NASA's "worm" logotype. The "meatball" and these other NASA designs have made waves in pop culture.
