WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force revealed its new logo and motto as the service seeks to build branding and cultural identity.

The black-and-silver service logo unveiled July 22 has the delta wing as its central element that is also found in the Space Force seal and flag. There is a “Space Force” horizontally shaped logo and a USSF vertical logo.

The Space Force motto “Semper Supra” means “always above.” It represents the service’s role in establishing, maintaining and preserving U.S. freedom of operations in the ultimate high ground, a Space Force spokesman said.

The logo was designed by the Department of the Air Force’s advertising agency GSD&M.

  • The colors black and silver represent the environmental boundary between Earth and outer space.
  • The silver outer border of the delta signifies defense and protection from threats in the space domain.
  • The black area inside embodies the vast darkness of deep space.
  • Inside the delta, the two spires represent the action of a rocket launching into the outer atmosphere.
  • The four beveled elements symbolize the joint armed forces supporting the space mission: Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines.
  • In the center of the delta is the Polaris star meant to symbolize the guiding light.

Delta symbol
Following the unveiling in January of the official Space Force seal with the delta wing delta, the service pushed back on criticism that it looked like a Star Trek Starfleet knockoff. Space Force officials pointed out that the delta symbol was used in the 1940s by the U.S. Army Air Forces and was used in early Air Force space organization emblems as early as 1961 and is symbolic of the heritage of military space organizations.

A spokesman said the delta wing signifies the U.S. Space Force’s upward trajectory into space, represents the launch vehicles that send satellites into orbit, and evokes change and innovation.

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...