US Space Force Is Keeping Its Scrapped Logo Designs Where The Sun Don’t Shine
Photo 301956694 © Mohamed Ahmed Soliman | Dreamstime.com
The United States Space Force’s unveiling of its logo back in January 2020 sparked more than curiosity about the cosmos—it also launched a galaxy of comparisons to the iconic Star Trek: Starfleet Command emblem. With its futuristic silver arrow, backdrop of stars, and an upward swirl, the graphic seemed to boldly go where one franchise has gone before, blending science fiction with military reality. Yet, what remains a mystery are the designs that didn’t make the final frontier, as, until now, they’ve been shielded from public eyes.
The Air Force has only recently answered a Freedom of Information Act request from the libertarian Reason magazine, filed back in 2020. The publication sought insight into the branding journey of the Space Force, established during the Donald Trump administration. The response included 122 pages of communications about the uniforms, logo, and seal’s design process.
In 2020, Reason's @cjciaramella requested drafts and alternate designs of the Space Force logo. Four years later, the feds responded with this.
— reason (@reason) March 16, 2024
All is not lost, though. Some tidbits slipped by the censors in the 122 pages of communications they disclosed: https://t.co/vv6jRauVVh pic.twitter.com/19uOct4Zad
However, any drafts of the badge that were not selected have been blacked out, invoking the “deliberative process” exemption of the FOIA. This exemption aims to protect the brainstorming and decision-making process in federal agencies, suggesting that the path to the final logo involved discussions that the government believes should remain confidential to foster open and frank dialogue.
Despite the veil of secrecy over the alternate designs, the documents shed light on the sometimes frantic efforts to craft a respectable visual identity for the Space Force. One notable revelation was the last-minute change to the uniform of Gen. John W. Raymond, the Space Force’s first chief of space operations, which involved a debate over the color of the thread stitch for the new uniforms.
