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Environment & Science

WATCHING THE SKIES: May 18-24 | Contemplating the NASA ‘meatball’ logo

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Watching the skies with Brad Klein

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Brad Klein reviews upcoming astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s ‘Backyard Astronomy Guy,’ Marty McGuire.

This week, a look at the enduring NASA insignia, known as the "meatball" logo.

It was created in 1959 by an early NASA employee, James Modarelli, according to the agency’s website.

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WLVR’s Brad Klein sporting the NASA "meatball" logo on his shirt.

“The round shape of the insignia represents a planet," the NASA website says. "The stars represent space. The red v-shaped wing represents aeronautics. The circular orbit around the agency’s name represents space travel.”

Klein says that it sounds too busy to work as a logo, but somehow it does.

“It’s endured for more than 60 years and it still looks fresh and bold," Klein says.

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WLVR’s Brad Klein and ‘Backyard Astronomy Guy’, Marty McGuire