Ad Astra (magazine)

Ad Astra (magazine)

Ad Astra is the quarterly journal of the National Space Society (NSS), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) aerospace advocacy and educational institution headquartered in Washington, D.C.. The name literally means "To the Stars."

The magazine came into being following the merger of the L5 Society and the National Space Institute which became the National Space Society in 1987.

On November 28, 2007, the National Space Society announced MM Publishing, Inc., a media company based in New York City, as the newest publisher of the society’s magazine. The agreement between NSS and MM Publishing officially took effect with the Spring (February 2008) issue of the quarterly magazine. Ad Astra is MM Publishing's second magazine on the space industry, after LAUNCH Magazine.

Imaginova Corporation, publisher of Space.com, published Ad Astra from 2005 to 2008, and still maintains a website for Ad Astra Online at SPACE.com replacing the previous publisher. Now in its eighteenth year of publication as the official magazine of NSS, Ad Astra has been widely praised for its in-depth, expert coverage of space exploration and development, as well as outstanding photography. It has an international readership that includes some of the most influential names in the space industry, the US government and the American public.

A review by the Skeptic Files reports:

"Ad Astra is many things: It is balanced, presenting all aspects of an issue in a fair and non-judgmental way. It is attractive and visually appealing, using glossy stock paper, full color photos, and an uncluttered format. It is educational, presenting facts and details in a concise and comprehensive journalistic style. It is timely and informative, keeping its readers up to date on current events and their impact on the future of space exploration. It is future-oriented, reporting on new advances in a variety of research and projects—both domestic and international. The editorial staff of Ad Astra pledges to bring NSS members a magazine that will serve as the gateway to the stars."