Emblems of Exploration (NASA SP-2015-456): Logos of the NACA and NASA

The material presented herein is organized chronologically and covers the subject from the first days of the NACA in 1915 to the current-day situation of NASA. Inputs from historical archivists at the current NASA Centers have contributed a significant amount of material on the logos of the NACA and NASA at their specific Centers. Particularly valuable information on the chronology of the NACA and NASA logos and the participation of the U.S. Army is also discussed. This publication has two primary objectives regarding the NACA and NASA logos. The first objective is to provide, to the extent possible, detailed information about the designers and design processes for the emblems. The second objective of the discussions is to briefly illustrate the applications of these respected and admired insignias and seals within the cultures of each agency. For this task, photographs and descriptions are used to exemplify applications to buildings; equipment; aircraft and spacecraft; correspondence and documents; and personal memorabilia such as pins, awards, and retirement plaques.