9 Space Logo Designs that Tell the Story of Human Exploration

From NASA’s “meatball” to the SpaceX swoosh, learn how the logotypes and insignias of space missions reveal the tale of human progress

Space exploration is always a visual spectacle, from the dazzling launches to breathtaking photos of the Earth and space. But another undeniable visual aspect that will draw design-lovers’ attention is the amazing range of logos and wordmarks created to represent humanity’s journey into outer space.

These designs help to communicate a goal with the public, while creating a visual record marking the missions, names, destinations, and more. They also bounce interestingly off contemporary design trends, all of which we’ll explore below, through nine space logo designs from history to today.

1. The NASA seal

Although it’s less recognizable than its simplified insignia version (see below), this seal was the beginning of a space logo design tradition. Featuring stars, an arrow wing, and an orbit, this formal seal started several trends in space logo design.

The seal began life in 1959 with NASA’s initial formation. James Modarelli (from NASA’s Lewis Research Laboratory) was inspired by trips to other research centers where he saw the Langley cambered wing design. Working with other candidates such as Harry DeVoto, he took the lead in submitting a popular design featuring the wing—although in early drafts it was actually presented in an inverted shape, which caused some upset amongst the engineers! You can learn the whole fascinating story in NASA’s ebook, Emblems of Exploration.

2. NASA’s “Meatball” insignia

While finishing the seal, Modarelli took on the task of creating a less formal insignia to be used as a badge and with the general public. The iconic “meatball” is a circular logo overlaid with an arrow-wing shape (which represents aeronautics) and orbital ellipsis.

The USA’s fast-moving space program of the 1960s was key to making this design as well-known as it is. Nowadays it represents ingenuity and nostalgia at the same time, and is easily recognizable on merchandise and rockets alike! Oh, and if you’re interested, the official colors are Pantone 185 for the red hue and Pantone 286 for the blue.

3. NASA’s “Worm” logotype

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the meatball and insignia were often seen as too complicated and difficult to print—especially at smaller sizes. So, the firm Danne & Blackburn created something more adaptable and sleek, with simpler colors. The “worm” is a wordmark with curved, red letters and a striking simple shape that can be used in a wide range of formats.

In the '90s, this design was actually phased out, with the originals taking center stage. But in the internet age, and especially during the pandemic, nostalgic and retro design have made a huge comeback. In 2020, the worm was reinstated and is now becoming more popular again.

Learn more about the history of the "worm" founder, Bruce Nelson Blackburn.

4. The ESA logotype

ESA is the European Space Agency, a contributor to the International Space Station and Webb Space Telescope, and known for its own projects such as Rosetta (the first mission to land on a comet). Unlike NASA, ESA has had a fairly consistent brand with blue hues since its inception in 1975.

The logo starts with a logomark, the "E" inside a circle that represents Earth. To the left is a small dot representing a satellite. The logotype for ESA follows, with uniform serif letters. The letters can be neatly reversed for the French name, Agence Spatiale Européenne, or ASE. Keeping things more streamlined has allowed this logo to persist through major missions and collaborations with other space agencies over the years. The blue hue is known as “Deep Space blue”.

6. The International Space Station insignia

The recognizable silhouette of the International Space Station has become a logo in itself, appearing on mission patches from all around the world. This “floating” laboratory, over 400km off the surface of Earth, has been conducting research for almost 9,000 days, far longer than it was projected to. It’s a place where astronauts and scientists from many different countries and cultures come together to further human understanding.

The insignias designed for the ISS reflect the different contributors to the project as well as centering its shape. In the 20-year anniversary insignia, a retro-style type seems to call back to NASA’s “worm” logo.

7. Kibo Assembly Mission insignias

JAXA’s Kibo module for the ISS received its own striking mission insignias during its construction. The three insignias together tell the story of the module’s different compartments. Kibo can be used to conduct important experiments for drug research, better understanding of the human body, and more—all of which require the microgravity the ISS provides.

The three color-coded patches have a background of stars reminiscent of comics, while the foreground artwork is in black and white, allowing the relatively complex module diagrams to stand out.

8. Mission patches

Mission patches are all about telling a story while creating a feeling of accomplishment. Many space agencies use patches to mark the names of crew members and their destination for each mission, although perhaps the most well-known are the ISS Expedition patches, like number 44 below.

As patch technology has improved, you can see more and more elaborate and atypical shapes emerge. Colors are also becoming more experimental—although for NASA crew patches, the recognizable blue or red are generally included as elements.

9. The SpaceX logotype

Finally, we come to a rising star: the spacecraft manufacturer, SpaceX. Aiming to create and promote the use of reusable rockets and other forward-thinking space tech, SpaceX also has plans to take its rockets to Mars.

This more contemporary logotype focuses on clarity while maintaining some flair, such as the unfinished ‘A’ reminiscent of a wing, and the ‘X’ with an extended arm suggesting a rocket flightpath. It’s perhaps no coincidence that the wide letters look great next to NASA’s worm logo, as these two companies have worked closely together and are set to launch a manned Moon mission in the near future.

Tell impactful stories through logos with these resources

1. Study these seven impactful brand logos that reflect evolving design trends.

2. Get inspired with these five fascinating facts about logos.

3. Master visual communication with these eight typography design courses that cover fonts and logos.