Per Aspera Ad Astra (Russian: Через тернии к звёздам, USA screen name - Through the Thorns to the Stars; Humanoid Woman) is a 1981 Soviet science fiction film directed by Richard Viktorov and based on a novel by Kir Bulychov.

Based on the original script by Kir Bulychyov and Richard Viktorov "Daughter of Space" and "Space Angels".

This fantasy film is set in the 23rd century. Niya, an artificially created girl, gets on the Earth from the distant planet of Dessa. On her home planet, the civilization is being destroyed by industrial pollution and the totalitarian regime of the dwarf Turanchoks. The earthlings save their brothers by intellect.

Part 1 - "Niya, an Artificial Human"
Part 2 - "Space Angels"

One of the most popular film of the 1980s. Girls in the USSR got Niya-like haircuts and Alexey Rybnikov's music was played on all open-reel tape recorders.

Box-office showing - 20.5 million viewers.

Awards:
Special Jury Prize "Silver Asteroid" - IFF of Sci-Fi Films in Triesta (Italy), 1981;
All-Union Film Festival in Vilnius - Vilnius University Award for the Best Film on the Science Theme, 1982;
USSR State Prize for Works for Children, 1982

Cast:
Metelkina Elena, Ledogorov Igor, Ledogorov Vadim, Fadeeva Elena, Lazarev Alexandr, Yasulovich Igor, Dvorzhetsky Vatslav, Strizhenov Gleb, Mikhaylov Alexandr, Shcherbakov Boris