NASA Space Color Psychology & Meaning
NASA's worm logo colors — dark navy, the NASA orange-red, and white — are the palette of planetary ambition. These colors say: we left Earth and we're going back.
#0A0A1A
#0B3D91
#FC3D21
#FFFFFF
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
NASA Space
boldexploratorytechnical all sciencebrandingtech
AAA
WCAG Grade
19.6:1
Contrast Ratio
2,900
Saves
7,800
AI Copies
Use #0A0A1A as the background. Use #0B3D91 as the primary accent. Use #FC3D21 as secondary. Use #FFFFFF as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: NASA Space — bold, exploratory, technical.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the NASA Space color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 0.4% | 10, 10, 26 | 62%, 62%, 0%, 90% | 240°, 44%, 7% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 5.5% | 11, 61, 145 | 92%, 58%, 0%, 43% | 218°, 86%, 31% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 24.1% | 252, 61, 33 | 0%, 76%, 87%, 1% | 8°, 97%, 56% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 100.0% | 255, 255, 255 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 0% | 0°, 0%, 100% |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The NASA Space palette is built using a triadic relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A triadic palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
NASA's worm logo was designed by Richard Danne and Bruce Blackburn in 1975. After being retired in 1992, it was restored in 2020. The color system has become one of the most admired in institutional design.
Best Design Use Cases
Dark navy for all backgrounds. NASA blue for secondary elements. The red-orange for primary brand moments only — treat it like a launch, not an everyday color. White for all content.
Industries This Palette Suits
Aerospace, science communication, technology companies, education, exploration brands.
How to Implement the NASA Space Color Scheme
To use this NASA Space color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #0A0A1A for the main background and #0B3D91 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #FFFFFF and #0A0A1A is 19.60:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.