Title of Patch: Highlighting Aeronautics Research and Development at AFRC
Designer: Kirstin Sharrer/Graphics
Year it was designed: 2018
Explanation or story behind the logo: This logo was created as part of the 2018/2019 FIRST Leadership Program’s “Explore as One” Graphics Challenge through the NASA@Work platform. This challenge was led by Kirsten Boogaard, Joshua Martin, and Matt Waldersen at AFRC. Sharrer’s original logo was selected and then combined with input from other Directorates for how individuals feel the Center fits into NASA over the next 60 years.
This logo shows how AFRC supports NASA’s mission of discovery and expansion of aerospace knowledge through the support of aeronautics research and development. The overall exploration of the Solar System is shown through elements such as Mars, the Sun, the Moon and stars. AFRC’s unique emphasis on aeronautics is communicated through the representation of earth with the X-56 flying around it as well as the incorporation of the EXPLORE logo with FLIGHT as the secondary verbiage. The X-56 was used to show that the Center is moving towards more experimental work in the future while inspiring the commercial industry and the public to push boundaries. EXPLORE is shown in green to represent the idea of the Center doing more “green” research as time goes on. The sun behind the earth contains beams that help complete the A that stands for Armstrong. The combination of these elements shows AFRC’s role in the larger NASA mission to enable human expansion and increase understanding of the Universe and our place in it.