Space Cadet

Tiffany 'Rex' Simpson is a Florida party girl and gifted amateur inventor who earned a full scholarship to Georgia Tech but dropped out after her mother's death to care for her father. She now works as a bartender and alligator wrestler, juggling a wild lifestyle with a stubborn dream of space travel. Her unorthodox background would later shape how others judge her.

At her ten-year high school reunion, Rex meets Toddrick Spencer, now a space tourism billionaire who says she was one of his inspirations. The encounter rekindles her desire to become an astronaut and to prove herself against the odds. The reunion sets the plan in motion.

Rex decides to chase space again by applying to NASA, hoping to prove herself despite not meeting all the requirements. The decision feels risky given her unconventional history and current job as a bartender and wrestler. Her ambition begins to drive her next steps.

Nadine adds impressive credentials to Rex's résumé without Rex knowing, hoping to boost her chances. She relies on fabricated details and imagined references to craft a convincing profile. Rex remains unaware of the deception as the application moves forward.

Rex is accepted into an astronaut training program at the Johnson Space Center, a moment that should be the start of a dream fulfilled. The news lightens her mood but also casts a shadow because of the untruths behind it. She steels herself to endure the rigorous selection process.

An introductory interview reveals Rex's secret to the NASA board, but she manages to salvage the moment without confessing. The deception creates tension as she must keep her lie from unraveling. She realizes she cannot succeed without help.

Rex's roommate Violet accidentally learns about her misrepresented credentials. Rather than exposing her, Violet offers to help Rex catch up academically and Rex helps Violet improve physically. They agree to work as a team to survive the program.

Nadine's fabrication of references is used to sustain Rex's eligibility, with voice acting and digital tools masking the ruse. Logan and several board members rely on the forged recommendations, making the lie harder to detect. Rex faces mounting pressure as the truth edges closer to surface.

As weeks pass, NASA begins trimming candidates, and Violet is among those told she is out. She promises not to reveal Rex's secret, but warns that revealing it would end badly for Rex. The cut heightens the stakes and secrecy around Rex's lie.

The night before the final training exercise, Rex persuades Logan and many candidates to celebrate at a karaoke bar. The night ends at the Space Center planetarium, where Rex and Logan share a near-kiss moment. The social bonding raises stakes for the upcoming test.

The candidates undertake a two-week Mars habitat simulation, and Rex demonstrates leadership and competence. They navigate isolation, teamwork, and challenging tasks under pressure. Rex's perseverance slowly earns the respect of more peers and instructors.

The day after the final exercise, Rex begins flight training but Logan discovers her falsified credentials when Nadine accidentally switches to a video call pretending to be a male reference. Rex successfully lands the plane but is expelled from the program. The revelation shatters her NASA dream and rewrites her path.

Ten months later, Rex's former colleagues head to the International Space Station, but meteorite debris traps the crew behind a station door. Rex and Violet pilot a rescue mission on Toddrick's spacecraft, using unconventional thinking to devise a fix. They manage to repair the door and bring everyone safely back to Earth.

In the epilogue, Rex and Violet become astronauts for Toddrick's company, and they and Nadine launch a 'space camp' for young girls. Rex enters a relationship with Logan, closing the loop on earlier tensions. She has embraced her dream while giving back to the next generation.