Ad Astra Sculpture

Ad Astra (Latin for to the stars) is a public abstract artwork, located at the Jefferson Drive entrance and in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). The work, by Richard Lippold, is approximately 114 feet of stainless steel and has stood facing the National Mall in Washington, DC since 1976.

Our conservators oversaw the dismantling and temporary storage of the sculpture in preparation for the expansion and revitalization of the National Air and Space Museum.  Our conservators studied original documentation, documented the conditions of the sculpture, made recommendations to the client, then planned and executed the removal of the sculpture in a manner intended to have minimal impact on the ongoing renovations. Our team took special care to protect Ad Astra’s polished and patinated finish during removal and then facilitated its reinstallation once the foundation’s site work was complete.