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 Color Palette
#0A0A1A · #0B3D91 · #FC3D21 · #FFFFFF
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% |
NASA Space Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the NASA Space palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#0A0A1A gently saturated blue
#0B3D91 saturated blue
#FC3D21 saturated red
#FFFFFF neutral gray
NASA Space Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #FFFFFF on #0A0A1A |
Aa Sample Text
| 19.60:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #0A0A1A on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 19.60:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #FFFFFF on #0B3D91 |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.04:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #0B3D91 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.04:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #FC3D21 on #0A0A1A |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.44:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #0A0A1A on #FC3D21 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.44:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #FFFFFF on #FC3D21 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.60:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #FC3D21 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.60:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #FC3D21 on #0B3D91 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.79:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0B3D91 on #FC3D21 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.79:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0B3D91 on #0A0A1A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A0A1A on #0B3D91 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
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.
Colors That Pair Well With NASA Space
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
orange
directly opposite #0B3D91 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
blue
30° beside #0B3D91 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using NASA Space Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #0B3D91 for small UI elements on #0A0A1A — at 2.0:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #FFFFFF — 19.6:1 against #0A0A1A passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Don't use #FC3D21 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
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.
NASA Space Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the NASA Space color palette?
The NASA Space palette contains #0A0A1A, #0B3D91, #FC3D21, #FFFFFF. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the NASA Space color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #FFFFFF on #0A0A1A reaches 19.6:1 (AAA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the NASA Space palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #A66E0C, #23138B, #EBEBEF extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the NASA Space palette create?
NASA Space reads as bold, exploratory, technical. Saturated blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated blue — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the NASA Space color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the NASA Space palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the NASA Space palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from NASA Space's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.