Pitched Unfairly

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

NHB 1430.2
January 1976

Graphics Standards Manual

One agency. One mark. No exceptions.

Danne & Blackburn for NASA

0.1 Why a standard NHB 1430.2

A mark only becomes shorthand
if every center uses it the same way.

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Headquarters

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Ames Research Center

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Dryden Flight Research Facility

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Johnson Space Center

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Kennedy Space Center

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Langley Research Center

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Lewis Research Center

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Marshall Space Flight Center

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Wallops Flight Facility

1look for the whole agency

1.1 The logotype NHB 1430.2

Four letters. One stroke width. No crossbars.

Strokes
All one width, for unity and technical precision.
The two A's
No cross-strokes. The gap points up, like a nose cone.
Reproduction
Never redrawn. Shoot it from the art in Section 2.
3 units = 1 stroke 18 units
Stand-in mark, drawn on the manual's grid method
9.1 Clear space and size NHB 1430.2

Three stroke widths of air, on every side.

Drag the center name in. The zone is the rule.

Decal width

John F. KennedySpace Center

Clear

1.4 Color NHB 1430.2

One warm red. On white, or not at all.

NASA red

Pantone
179
Hex
E03C31
RGB
224 60 49
Process
0 100 100 0
  • Black
  • NASA warm gray, to swatch
  • White

NASA red, black, or warm gray

1.2 Typography NHB 1430.2

Helvetica speaks for NASA in two weights.

Approved families

  • HelveticaThe keystone. Signs, forms, vehicles, most publications.
  • FuturaSans serif alternate for publications.
  • Garamond, Times RomanSerif text faces for publications.

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Light The agency, always first

Medium The center, for emphasis

5.14 The grid NHB 1430.2

The grid decides before the designer does.

In 1975 the new forms were due “at a later date.” This is the later date.

National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

Request for
Graphic Services

Requested by
Center
Date needed
Quantity
Charge code
Application

Sign

Vehicle

Publication

Form

Description
Approved, Graphics Coordinator
Date

NASA Form

7.1 Applications: vehicles, signs, forms NHB 1430.2

Same rules at 24 inches as at 2.

Tractor-trailer
24 in mark
Smaller vans
18 in mark
Pick-up
5 in, at the rear
Decals
2, 3, 5, 7½ in
Aircraft
At least 25% over the numerals
1.6 Incorrect uses NHB 1430.2

Nine ways to ruin a logotype. Rule two is personal.

Rule two: never inside a solid shape, “such as a circle.” The insignia it replaced was a circle.

0.2 Who owns the standard NHB 1430.2

One office owns the standard. Ask it first.

Owner

NASA Graphics Coordinator

Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Advice and counsel on anything this manual does not answer.

How to get help

  1. I need the logotype 2.1 Shoot it from the reproduction art. Never redraw it.
  2. It goes on a building 1.7 Use the grid drawing. Then call the Coordinator.
  3. Our mission has a patch 1.8 Give the patch its own space, apart from the logotype.
  4. Can we add the seal? 1.9 Never alongside the logotype.
  5. A vendor wants the mark 14 CFR 1221 Use is restricted by federal regulation.

Graphics Standards Manual · NHB 1430.2

Retired in 1992. Back on a rocket in 2020.

  1. 1975 Adopted The logotype replaces the 1959 insignia.
  2. 1992 Retired May 22. The circle comes back.
  3. 2015 Reprinted Nearly $1M on Kickstarter for the manual.
  4. 2020 Reinstated On the Falcon 9 for Crew Demo-2.
  5. 2025 Collected In MoMA's Pirouette show.