New U.S. Space Force logo bears striking resemblance to Star Trek
Spot the difference: Space Force vs. Starfleet Command
The United States Space Force has a new logo, and it looks...kinda familiar.
On Friday, President Donald Trump tweeted out the new logo, with the caption, “After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!”
After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military! pic.twitter.com/TC8pT4yHFT
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020
The logo features a white arrowhead shape against a blue background with stars, in a circular symbol with words around the outside that read: “United States Space Force - Department of the Air Force”.
Star Trek fans were quick to point out the logo’s similarity to that of Starfleet Command, which features a Starfleet delta against a background of stars, surrounded by the words “Starfleet Command - United Federation of Planets.” William Shatner even wondered, “Why aren’t you asking @StarTrek or @CBS if they are going to file suit for copyright infringement?”
Why aren’t you asking @StarTrek or @CBS if they are going to file suit for copyright infringement?🤔🤷🏼♂️
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) January 25, 2020
While not all fans were keen on the US military “ripping off” Star Trek symbology, it turns out that both Star Trek and the military have a long history of borrowing imagery from one another. The Washington Post quotes a Facebook post from renowned Star Trek designer Mike Okuda, who said: “Arrowheads and swooshes and orbits and stars and planets have been used in space emblems long before either of these emblems. [...] For whatever it’s worth - and I do not own the intellectual property rights in most of my Star Trek work - I’m not offended by the similarities, nor would I accuse the Space Force of plagiarism.”
It’s worth mentioning that in addition to his Star Trek work, Okuda actually designed several program emblems for NASA, so he knows what he’s talking about.
