Retro Meatball Logo NASA T-ShirtThe round red, white and blue insignia, nicknamed the "meatball," was designed by employee James Modarelli in 1959, NASA's second year. The design incorporates references to different aspects of the mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The round shape of the insignia represents a planet. The stars represent space. The red v shaped wing represents aeronautics. The circular orbit around the agency's name represents space travel.