SoylentNews

DannyB [soylentnews.org] writes:

The Verge:
NASA brings back its iconic ‘worm’ logo for upcoming Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch [theverge.com]
Return of the worm

NASA is officially bringing back its iconic “worm” logo [nasa.gov] from the 1970s for SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch, [theverge.com] NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine announced today on Twitter. [twitter.com] The organization is seeking to “mark the return of human spaceflight on American rockets from American soil.”

[ . . . . ] The worm logo was introduced in 1975 [nasa.gov] by design firm Danne & Black­burn as part of an effort to “upgrade” the space agency’s graphics from the original “meatball” logo that NASA had been using since 1959. The logo is practically synonymous with that era of spaceflight, adorning the Hubble Telescope and the original test flight shuttle, Enterprise. But despite the slick, modern design, the worm logo was officially retired in 1992 [wired.com] in favor of a return to the original meatball logo, which is still used today by NASA. (Although the worm logo did still stick around for merchandising opportunities.)

The return of the worm on the upcoming Crew Dragon launch — tentatively scheduled for sometime in May — will mark a major comeback for the iconic logo, which hasn’t been to space in an official capacity in decades.

Maybe manned space flight is a merchandising opportunity.

Original Submission