In the late 1960s and 70s, a young boy named José (Michael Peña) hails from Michoacán, working alongside his family—his father Salvador (Julio Cesar Cedillo), mother Julia (Verónica Falcón), brother Beto (Bobby Soto), and sister Lety—as migrant laborers in California’s grapefields. With dreams of owning a home back in Mexico, they toil tirelessly each day, while José juggles school and work. His teacher, Ms. Young (Michelle Krusiec), recognizes his potential and expresses her worries to his parents about his inconsistent schooling. Inspired by the moon landings of 1969, José confides his aspiration to become an astronaut.
However, when his father receives only partial wages, he realizes that Ms. Young’s concerns were valid and the family commits to staying in California permanently. Fast forward to 1985, José proudly graduates from the University of the Pacific and secures a job as an engineer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where groundbreaking research on sophisticated laser technology is underway to protect the USA from nuclear threats.
Despite his achievements, José faces racial stereotyping, often mistaken for the new janitor, and his brother Beto continues to work in the fields. His menial tasks include photocopying extensive documents, working alongside colleagues like Weissberg (Jordan Dean). Having been rejected by NASA multiple times, he yearns for a sense of belonging and decides to trade his 1963 Chevrolet Impala for a more subdued used Mazda RX-7. During the paperwork for his new car, he crosses paths with Adela (Rosa Salazar), and after navigating the complexities of her large family, they fall in love and marry, eventually welcoming five children.
While Adela mockingly doubts José’s astronaut dreams, he uncovers a major flaw in the lab’s laser design which he presents to his supervisor. This breakthrough propels José into a mentorship role where he guides the researchers, including Weissberg, who previously overlooked him. Despite facing persistent NASA rejections—six in total—Adela encourages him, understanding the depth of his ambitions. José learns that the previous astronaut applicants numbered over 12,000, filled with pilots and athletes.
He actively trains to enhance his qualifications—becoming a pilot, diving extensively, and immersing himself in the Russian language to improve his odds. In 1999, when his boss Clint Logan (Eric Johnson) presents him with a chance to visit Russia to evaluate uranium intended for NASA, José seizes the opportunity, knowing it could significantly bolster his application.
Eventually, after facing many obstacles, José personally delivers his twelfth application to Frederick Sturckow (Garret Dillahunt), a veteran astronaut trainer. He impresses Sturckow and is accepted into the program, but struggles to keep up with the demands of the rigorous training. Tragedy strikes when he learns of Beto’s death in a gang-related shooting, leading to a lapse in focus, followed by a motivational talk from Kalpana Chawla (Sarayu Blue), who shares the profound purpose behind their arduous work in pursuit of space exploration.
As José continues to persevere, he excels with his peers and secures a space for Adela’s restaurant. In 2008, he is called into a meeting by Sturckow, informing him he’s selected for STS-128 as a Mission Specialist. Filled with pride, he shares the news with Adela, reiterating his late brother Beto’s inspirational words about a migrant farmworker’s journey into the great unknown.
Finally, on launch day, José boards the shuttle, immersing himself in a moment of reflection as he recalls the Monarch Butterfly that once landed on his father’s arm—a sign of their decision to settle in California. The closing titles reveal that STS-128 docked at the International Space Station for 13 days, where José enjoyed tacos and listened to José Alfredo Jiménez’s "El Hijo Del Pueblo". Notably, he becomes the first migrant farmworker in space, and he remains rooted in his origins, picking grapes alongside his father—now in his own vineyard, Tierra Luna Cellars, based in Lodi, California.
