NOTE:
The NASA Insignia, Logotype, identifiers, and imagery are not in the public domain. The use of the Insignia, Logotype and NASA identifiers is protected by law, and imagery is made available for use consistent with Media Usage Guidelines.

Promoting Your NASA-Themed Merchandise

As a U.S. government agency, NASA will not promote, sponsor, co-create, or endorse – or appear to promote, sponsor, co-create, or endorse – a commercial product, service, or activity. As such, NASA does not permit language in promotional materials, including press releases and social media posts, that suggests the agency promotes, sponsors, co-created, or endorses a commercial product, service, or activity.

NASA may approve use of agency identifiers on a product, but we do not review or approve the product, service, or activity itself.

🚫 Use of terms like “NASA approved,” “NASA collection,” “official NASA,” “genuine NASA,” “original NASA,” “authentic NASA,” “trusted by,” or similar wording, to describe your product, service, or activity, or association with NASA, is prohibited.

🚫 Use of the word “NASA” with a brand, product collection, categories of products, or product name* in promotional materials, including press releases and social media posts, and product listings online and in catalogs is prohibited.

✅ Use of the terms “NASA-themed” and “NASA-inspired” is acceptable.

🚫 Use of NASA identifiers in promotional materials, including press releases and social media posts, is prohibited.

✅ If NASA has approved the use of one or more of its identifiers on a product, it is acceptable to use in promotional materials images of the product that show the approved use of the NASA identifier on the product.

🚫 NASA X (Brand Name) on products, promotional materials, websites, pitch presentations etc. is also prohibited.

*In general, NASA does not permit the use of its name in toy product titles unless the toy is a precise replica of an actual spacecraft, rocket, rover, or similar entity. Such products must be highly accurate, high-fidelity models. Additional guidance will be provided during the review of product and promotional materials.

Advertising Requests

Strict regulations govern NASA policy on advertising requests. A general overview of NASA policy follows:

As a U.S. government agency, NASA will not promote or endorse or appear to promote or endorse a commercial product, service or activity. Therefore, there are strict limits placed on the use of any of the NASA identities and emblem imagery in advertisements.

Any references to NASA in an advertisement must be factually accurate.

Many NASA images and selections of film and video footage produced and publicly released by NASA may be used for advertising purposes. However, there are rules regarding the appearance of NASA astronauts’ or NASA employees’ names, likenesses or other personality traits in advertising materials. Astronauts or employees who are currently employed by NASA cannot have their names, likenesses or other personality traits displayed in any advertisements or marketing material. Former NASA Astronauts or employees who no longer work for the U.S. Government can grant permission for the use of their names, likenesses or other personality traits in their discretion, but their former affiliation with NASA may not be used to promote any product, service or activity. For deceased astronauts or employees, their estates may retain rights in the deceased person’s name, likeness or other personality traits, so permission may still be needed.  NASA may not grant the right to use names, likenesses or other personality traits on behalf of these individuals.

There are many images (moving and still) which have been made publicly available by NASA featuring astronauts in space suits where the astronaut’s face may be shielded or not easily recognizable, but where some other aspect of the photo may indicate the astronaut’s identity – like a name tag or simply the historical context of the photo.  In such a case, the restrictions set forth above may still be applicable, so permission may still be necessary.

NASA does not permit use of the NASA Insignia and other NASA indicia in advertisements. Any use of the NASA identity on spacesuits or spacecraft is generally not permitted unless authorized by the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Any images included in advertisements must follow NASA’s Images and Media Guidelines

The NASA Insignia cannot appear on websites that contain open advertising unless approved by the Associate Administrator for Communications or designee.

NASA has a long standing policy of not collaborating with promotions related to alcohol or tobacco products.

Commercials or other advertisements or marketing activities are not permitted to be shot at NASA Centers.

When all legal and policy regulations have been met and approval is obtained, the advertiser may contact the Photo Department at 202-358-1900 for information to access imagery.

Advertising and Marketing on the International Space Station

Commercials and other marketing filming/activity on the International Space Station authorized by the NASA Interim Directive (NID) on Use of International Space Station (ISS) for Commercial and Marketing Activities are additionally subject to the following guidelines:

NASA support in filming/capturing commercials or other marketing videos, which will occur behind the scenes, shall not be used to indicate or imply that NASA approves or endorses the requesting entity or its products, services, or enterprises. No commercials or promotional materials filmed on ISS may imply such approval or endorsement, nor may NASA stock images or footage be used in a way that does so.

The commercials or other marketing filming should not reference NASA support needed to create the materials, including any mention that NASA astronauts were involved in the filming.

The commercials or marketing materials filmed are not permitted to show activities that are distinguishable as NASA activities.

The commercials or other marketing materials shall not use any corporate name(s), logo(s), or trademark(s) depicted in marketing activities without permission.

The NASA Insignia may not appear with other corporate products, identifying marks, or properties.

Requests to film marketing materials on the ISS will also be approved in writing by the Multimedia Division of NASA’s Office of Communications. The Multimedia Division will receive such requests from the Johnson Space Center (JSC) after the commercial partner has developed its proposal in consultation with JSC.

Submitting an Advertising Request:

Companies interested in producing NASA-related advertisements must notify the Multimedia Division of NASA’s Office of Communications.

Requests should describe the intended use of NASA imagery in the ads.

If possible, layouts or storyboards of the advertisement should be included.

When all legal requirements have been met, NASA will send the advertiser an approval letter or email.

Requests regarding NASA related advertisements must be made in writing by sending an e-mail to Bert Ulrich.