Without argument, THE strongest brand in the U.S. Government is NASA and its logo, affectionately called the “meatball”, have become synonymous with all things space, space exploration, and in general, darings-do.

The main elements in the insignia come from the NASA seal: the circle represents the planets; the stars represents space; the red wing represents NASA’s aeronautics roots and an orbiting spacecraft. It became known as the meatball in 1975. The insignia was used for 16 years, to be replaced in 1975 by a design funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and produced under the Federal Graphics Improvement Program. It was the head of NASA’s technical publications who first nicknamed the “old” design the “meatball” and the new, more modern and sleek one, the “worm.” In 1992, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin declared the worm dead, and what was old became new again.

Today, the NASA meatball insignia remains as one of the strongest and most recognizable logos ever created. Some of it has to do with the fact that it’s (I think) the only logo currently on the moon but it’s become synonymous with NASA’s brand elements of risk taking, success, scientific advancement, and exploration.

If you ever had doubts about the importance of brand, NASA and its “meatball” are worth remembering.