Kanata no Astra

In the year 2061, space travel has become both possible and commercially viable, opening the frontier beyond their home planet to a new generation. For the students of Caird High School, no event captures that spirit of exploration quite like Planet Camp—an expedition that promises adventure among distant worlds. Group B-5 sets off for their designated camp site in high spirits, entirely unaware of the catastrophe that awaits them. Shortly after Group B-5 arrives, a mysterious and unforeseen sphere of sentient light engulfs the nine students, warping them into the depths of outer space. When the disoriented teens regain their bearings, they realize the full horror of their situation: they have been stranded a staggering 5,012 light-years from their home planet, adrift in the silent darkness of space with no means of calling for rescue. Their only lifeline comes in the form of an old, unmanned spaceship discovered nearby—the Astra. Aboard this weathered vessel, the nine students must carefully manage their limited resources, keep their resolve from breaking, and remain united through every hardship as they chart the long and perilous journey back home. A gripping story of survival, trust, and determination, Kanata no Astra won the 12th Manga Taisho Award in 2019.