Ad Astra Construction Drawings

Ad Astra, the abstract statue created by artist Richard Lippold, has been an iconic feature in front of the National Air and Space Museum since it was installed in 1976. Made of gold-colored stainless steel, constructing this giant masterpiece was no easy feat. These construction drawings include details about how the starbursts are crafted and shed some light on the planning and design that went into getting this 146-foot sculpture to its home on the National Mall.

Discover more about these documents in this collection.