Ad Astra Per Aspera: Meaning, Origin & Pop Culture

A Latin phrase from ancient Rome now appears on state seals, military badges, and starship consoles — ad astra per aspera. It promises that the hardest climb leads to the brightest view, a message that has resonated across centuries. This guide unpacks its literal meaning, the many organizations that have claimed it, and how pop culture keeps it alive.

Kansas State Motto Since: 1861 ·
Royal Air Force Motto Since: 1918 ·
South African Air Force Motto Since: 1921 ·
Literal Translation: “To the stars through hardships” ·
Featured in Star Trek Episode: 2022

What does ‘Ad astra per aspera’ mean?

What is the literal translation?

• Ad astra – “to the stars”
• Per aspera – “through hardships” (plural of asperum, rough or harsh)
• Common English rendering: “through hardships to the stars” (Wikipedia – Ad astra)

What is the full quote?

• No single ancient source preserves the exact phrase “ad astra per aspera” – it appears to be a modern condensation of ideas from Virgil and Seneca (Maritime Supply Co. (history blog))
• Virgil: sic itur ad astra (Aeneid, Book IX) – “thus one journeys to the stars”
• Seneca: non est ad astra mollis e terris via (Hercules Furens, c. 54 AD) – “there is no easy way from the earth to the stars” (Holstee (mindfulness brand))

The implication: the phrase is a mosaic of classical Latin, not a direct quotation. Its power comes from the pairing of hardship and reward.

What is the RAF motto in Latin?

The Royal Air Force uses a slight variation: Per ardua ad astra – “through adversity to the stars.” It was adopted in 1918 and remains official today (Wikipedia – Per aspera ad astra). The word ardua (difficulties, steep) replaces aspera (harsh), giving the RAF version a distinct flavor.

Is the RAF motto still used?

• Yes – “Per ardua ad astra” appears on RAF badges, station signs, and official correspondence (Wikipedia – Per aspera ad astra)
• Also used by the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, and other Commonwealth air forces

Why are RAF police called snowdrops?

• The nickname comes from their white-topped peaked caps, reminiscent of the flower
• No direct link to the motto, but both are part of RAF tradition (Wikipedia – Per aspera ad astra)

The pattern: adapting a single Latin phrase to different institutional identities creates a rich but often confusing legacy. Consider how overcoming massive economic collapse parallels this theme — What Caused the Great Depression: Key Factors Explained also required facing “ardua” head-on.

What is NASA’s motto? Is it ‘Per Aspera Ad Astra’?

NASA’s official motto is “For the benefit of all” – not “Per aspera ad astra.” However, the Latin phrase has appeared in NASA imagery and unofficial contexts, leading to persistent confusion (Holstee (mindfulness brand)).

What is NASA’s official motto?

• “For the benefit of all” – adopted informally early on and later formalized
• No Latin motto is used by NASA, though “Per aspera ad astra” appears in some artistic depictions

What other organizations use similar mottos?

• South African Air Force: “Per aspera ad astra” (Wikipedia – Per aspera ad astra)
• Kansas state: “Ad astra per aspera” (Travel Kansas (state tourism site))
• Royal Air Force and Commonwealth air forces: “Per ardua ad astra”

What this means: three major organizations, three different word orders—all built from the same Latin roots. No single version is “the” original; each adapts the phrase to its own identity.

Ad astra per aspera or per aspera ad astra: which is correct?

Both are grammatically correct Latin. The word order changes emphasis: “ad astra per aspera” stresses the destination first (“to the stars through hardships”), while “per aspera ad astra” puts the journey first (“through hardships to the stars”).

Five variants, one pattern: each swaps a single word or reverses the order to serve a different institution’s identity.

What is the difference between per aspera ad astra and per ardua ad astra?

• Aspera = rough, harsh, difficult (one of many hardships)
• Ardua = steep, difficult to climb (specifically a steep path)
• Both mean “through difficulties to the stars,” but ardua evokes a literal uphill battle (Maritime Supply Co. (history blog))

Why do variations exist?

• Classical Latin allowed flexible word order for emphasis
• Each organization adapted the phrase to its own history (e.g., RAF’s aviation focus → “ardua” for steep flight)
• No single authoritative Latin source, so different translators render it differently (Wikipedia – Ad astra)

Where does ‘Ad astra per aspera’ appear in pop culture?

From starship bridges to young adult novels, the phrase keeps crossing into modern storytelling. Three notable examples show its range:

How is it used in Star Trek?

• An episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) is titled “Ad Astra per Aspera”
• The episode deals with legal and moral struggles, fitting the phrase’s meaning
• No official source confirms the phrase as a Star Trek motto, but the nod is clear (Wikipedia – Ad astra)

What does it mean in Red Rising?

• Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series uses “Per aspera ad astra” as the motto of the Gold ruling class (Wikipedia – Ad astra)
• It reinforces the elite’s belief that their status was earned through hardship

Is it a common tattoo phrase?

• Yes – it is a popular tattoo choice symbolizing perseverance and triumph over adversity
• Often rendered in Latin script, sometimes with stars or wings
• No hard statistics, but searches for “ad astra per aspera tattoo” return thousands of results (Maritime Supply Co. (history blog))

“Ad astra per aspera — to the stars through hardships.”

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“Per aspera ad astra — through thorns to the stars. It reminds us that the best way out is through.”

Holstee (mindfulness brand)

Frequently asked questions

For anyone searching for a personal motto, the choice between variants comes down to what kind of hardship you’re facing. Kansas picked per aspera because its state was born from literal violence. The RAF chose per ardua because pilots face a steep physical climb. The pop culture versions lean into the romantic idea of struggling toward a distant goal. The consequence is clear: pick the version that fits your story, because the phrase only works if you own the struggle behind it. Personal transformation often requires this same determined mindset — How to Detox Your Body – Science-Based 7-Day Plan follows a similar principle of working through temporary hardship for lasting results.