posted 11-20-2006 08:38 AM            

The principal graphic element of the logo is a map of Scandinavia represented in lighter blue stripes and one darker blue (broken) stripe. This darker stripe marks the flight path of the Space Shuttle Discovery, which is represented at the top of this darker blue stripe.

The crossover of these images indicates the national feel of the mission with ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang coming from Sweden and activities during Scandinavian flyovers of the Shuttle involving institutions and students on the ground. The stripes also symbolise precision, scale and measurement with the darker stripe indicative of a thermometer, tying in with the background of the mission name shown to the right. The upward slanting direction of the darker stripe and the Shuttle furthermore hints at the dynamic nature of the mission and the progress that will be made with relation to the assembly of the ISS and on scientific grounds.

Furthermore with the colours used in the logo matching the chosen colours of the European Space Agency, this shows the wider European nature of the mission. This is again indicated by the appearance of the ESA logo in the bottom right hand corner.