is a Latin phrase meaning "to the stars". The phrase has origins with Virgil, who wrote in his Aeneid: "sic itur ad astra" ('thus one journeys to the stars')Virgil, Aeneid IX 641. Spoken by Apollo to Aeneas's young son Iulus. and "opta ardua pennis astra sequi" ('desire to pursue the high[/hard to reach] stars on wings').Virgil, Aenied XII 892–93. Spoken by Aeneas to his foe, Turnus, in their combat. Another origin is Seneca the Younger, who wrote in Hercules: "" ('there is no easy way from the earth to the stars').Seneca the Younger, Hercules Furens 437. Spoken by Megara, Hercules' wife.
Etymology Ad is a Latin preposition expressing direction toward in space or time (e.g. ad nauseam, ad infinitum, ad hoc, ad libidem, ad valorem, ad hominem). It is also used as a prefix in Latin word formation.
Astra is the accusative plural form of the Latin word astrum 'star' (from Ancient Greek ἄστρον astron 'star', from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ster-).
Mottos is used as, or as part of, the motto of many organizations, most prominently, military air forces. It has also been adopted as a proper name for various such things as publications, bands, video games, etc. It likewise sees general use as a popular Latin tag.
Ad astra
Ad Astra Rocket Company, Webster, Texas, United States Motto of Astor family Innova Junior College, Singapore Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale, Australia United States Air Force Academy Class of 2007 United States Coast Guard Academy Class of 1992 USS Taurus (PHM-3) University College Dublin, member institution of the National University of Ireland Downe House School, AGN house motto
Ad astra per alas porci "To the stars on the wings of a pig" Motto on John Steinbeck's personal stamp, featuring a figure of the Pigasus. Steinbeck's motto had an error in the Latin and used 'alia' instead of 'alas'. Title of Chris Thile's mandolin concerto
Ad astra per aspera
"To the stars through difficulties"; "a rough road leads to the stars"; or "Through hardships, to the stars". Albury High School in Albury, New South Wales, Australia Apollo 1 memorial placed at Launch Complex 34 Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England Immaculate Conception High School in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, West Indies The State of Kansas (U.S. state motto) Morristown-Beard School in Morristown, New Jersey Mount Saint Michael Academy in The Bronx, New York City Starfleet, the fictional organization in the Star Trek universe Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Florida Woodville High School, South Australia Rotorua Boys' High School in Rotorua, New Zealand Murroe AFC, Co Limerick, Ireland
De profundis ad astra "From the depths to the stars." Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society. The official motto of the world's oldest continually operating science fiction fan social club, founded in 1934.
Per ardua ad astra
"Through adversity to the stars" or "Through struggle to the stars"
Royal Air Force Royal Australian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force (prior to 1968) Royal Flying Corps Royal Indian Air Force (1932–1950) Royal New Zealand Air Force Air Operations Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces
Per aspera ad astra
"Through hardships to the stars" or "To the stars through difficulties"
Juan R. Liwag Memorial High School City of Gouda, The Netherlands Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Instituto Nacional Mejía Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Municipality of Cirebon, Indonesia (during the Dutch colonial period) Title of Sergei Bortkiewicz's Piano Concerto no. 3 South African Air Force Stevens Institute of Technology University of Klagenfurt Included within the Sounds of Earth audio portion of the contents of the Voyager Golden Record is a track containing the inspirational message per aspera ad astra in Morse code. Municipality of Pouso Alto, Minas Gerais, Brazil Girton Grammar School, Australia Ad Astra Undergraduate Research Newsletter, LaGuardia Community College/CUNY
Per audacia ad astra "Through boldness to the stars"
Launch Enterprise Directorate, United States Space Force Bungie as the motto for the Destiny (video game) franchise
Quam celerrime ad astra "With full speed to the stars" Chilean Air Force
Sic itur ad astra "Thus one goes to the stars"
The Philomathean Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States The Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland Admiral Collingwood Lodge, Australia City of Richmond, Virginia, United States Argentine Air Force, Materiel Command, Argentina The Geelong College, Australia Canadian Air Force (1920–1924) Colombian Aerospace Force 48 Air School in Woodbridge East London, one of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in South Africa. Other units had Ad Unum Ad Astra and Per Artem Ad Astra. Llandysul Grammar School, Llandysul, Ceredigion, Wales
"Such is the pathway to the stars" Royal Canadian Air Force Brazilian Air Force Academy, in Pirassununga – São Paulo, Brazil. The Brazilian Air Force Academy uses the variation "Macte animo! Generose puer, sic itur ad astra!" which means: "Be brave! Young ones, this is the pathway to the stars."
"Reach for the stars" The Hertfordshire and Essex High School, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England Falcon College, Zimbabwe
Hinc itur ad astra "From here the way leads to the stars" Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
Other uses Literature "Ad Astra" is the title of a William Faulkner short story, found in Collected Stories of William Faulkner (New York: Vintage International). A derived phrase, ex astris ('from the stars'), is used frequently in NASA publications and in science fiction—see Ex astris, scientia. The phrase "Per Aspera, Ad Astra" is used as a motto by Golds, recalling the Earth eras pre-conquering, in the popular Red Rising science fiction saga.
Music "Per aspera ad Astra" is the name of a track from the album Eppur si muove by German symphonic metal band Haggard. The phrase "Ad Astra" is a key phrase in Nightwish's song Shoemaker and the name of track 8 on disc two from their album Human. :II: Nature. "Ad Astra" is the title of a song by Finnish composer Antti Martikainen from the album "Novum" released November 30, 2022. “Sic itur ad astra” is the title of a track on Megaliths, the second album written and performed by Edinburgh-based experimental electronic musician Daniel McGurty, and released in 2022. "AD ASTRA" is the 15th track on the album SILOS, the fifth studio album of cinematic rock band Starset, released September 12, 2025. "AD ASTRA" is title of the ninth studio album of Northern Irish rock band Ash, released October 3, 2025. "Ad Astra" is the title of an album by Swedish stoner metal band Spiritual Beggars.
Art
Ad Astra is a 1976 public artwork by American artist Richard Lippold. Lippold's sculpture is located outside the Jefferson Drive entrance, and in the collection, of the National Air and Space Museum.
Film and television Ad Astra is the title of a 2019 science fiction film starring Brad Pitt. The phrase Sic itur ad astra was also used in the Netflix's Singaporean anime-influenced television series Trese. Ad Astra per Aspera is the title of the 2nd episode in season 2 of the Star Trek series Strange New Worlds
Computer games A 1984 computer game, Ad Astra is an outer space shoot-em-up with a 3-D perspective. The phrase Ad astra abyssosque is used as the motto for the Adventurer's Guild in the video game Genshin Impact. In the video game World of Tanks, Per Aspera Ad Astra is inscribed in the galaxy-themed Ad Astra style camouflage. In the video game Mafia 2, Per Aspera Ad Astra is the name of the last chapter.
References
External links History of the RAF motto (but note that this page misspells sic itur)