5 Down

NYT Mini • September 29, 2025

Org. whose round, red-white-and-blue logo is known as the “meatball”

Answer:

NASA

Hint:

This agency oversees the Artemis missions aiming to return humans to the Moon and once launched the Hubble Space Telescope. Its acronym stands for a name tied to space and aeronautics.

Explanation:

This clue refers to NASA, the U.S. space agency whose iconic logo—a blue circle with a red chevron, white stars, and an orbiting spacecraft—is nicknamed the "meatball" for its round, colorful design. The term "meatball" is a casual, long-standing reference to the logo’s shape and layered elements, contrasting with NASA’s newer, sleeker "worm" logo. The clue hints at the organization by describing its famous emblem rather than naming it directly.

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General solving tip

If the clue shows an abbreviation (org., dept., inits.), the answer usually does too. Mirror the clue's form with initials or a shortened form.

More tips → General Hints