This NASA Vector emblem of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration is 3 inches in diameter.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958, partially in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite. NASA grew out of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, which had been researching flight technology for more than 40 years.

NASA Headquarters, in Washington, provides overall guidance and direction to the Agency. Ten field centers and a variety of installations conduct the day-to-day work of exploration and discovery.

At Right: Comparative sizes of the NASA Vector emblem in the 2, 3, and 4 inch formats.

The 3 inch size is the one worn on astronaut flight suits.

The 4 inch size is better suited for larger displays such as the back of a jacket. It also displays well with the Space Shuttle or Apollo Mission patches which are all the 4 inch diameter format.

The 2 inch size is well suited for hats, golf shirts, and children's clothing.

All of the versions are made by AB Emblems, the NASA contractor mission emblems.