nasa meatball logo

NASA "meatball" logo

i just read the print on the back of a NASA sticker i picked up at the

AAS meeting in austin. i learned that the NASA insignia was designed

in 1959 and has been referred to as the "meatball" since 1975!? the

sphere represents a planet, the stars represent space, the red chevron

wing represents aeronautics (the latest design in hypersonic wings at

the time the logo was developed), and the spacecraft orbiting around

the wing represents space travel.

i spy with my little eye, three stars close together in a line....

i still dont quite understand how the word "meatball" fits into this

insignia, but i give huge props to NASA anyway, for giving out some

great stuff this year at AAS! the calendar i picked up is fantastic,

the image changing COBE/WMAP postcard is cool, and i love my little

black cleat bag! thanks NASA! (where is this kind of positive press

for NASA in the popular media?)