Four teenagers – Kevin, Kathryn, Rudy, and Tish – and 12-year-old Max go to Space Camp at Huntsville, Alabama, for three weeks during the summer to learn about the
NASA space program and mimic
Astronaut training. They meet their instructor, Andie Bergstrom, a
NASA-trained astronaut who is frustrated that she has not been assigned to a
Space Shuttle mission. Her bitterness is compounded by the fact that her husband, camp director Zach Bergstrom, is an astronaut who has walked on the Moon. Max befriends a
robot named Jinx, which was deemed unsuitable for space work because it overheated and was overly literal. Kathryn declares her dream to become the first female Shuttle commander and is frustrated when Andie assigns that role to Kevin instead to teach him responsibility. Kevin pursues Kathryn romantically, Rudy shares his wish to open the first
fast food franchise on the Moon, and Tish reveals that despite appearing to be a
valley girl, she is a genius with a
photographic memory. Kathryn and Kevin sneak away for romance near the
launch pad, but Jinx unintentionally gives them away. Andie explains that she believes Kathryn has what it takes to accomplish her ambition and explains the necessity of the harsh treatment she is giving her. Kevin takes out his anger on Max. Upset, Max states, "...I wish I was in space." Jinx overhears and takes what Max said literally. The campers are allowed to sit in the
Space Shuttle Atlantis during a routine
engine test. Jinx secretly enters NASA's computer room and triggers a "thermal curtain failure," causing one of the
boosters to ignite during the test. In order to avoid a crash,
Launch Control ignites the second booster and launches the Shuttle. The Shuttle is not flight ready, has no long-range radio, and has insufficient on-board oxygen to last to the re-entry window at
Edwards Air Force Base. Andie takes the Shuttle to the partially constructed
Space Station Daedalus to retrieve oxygen stored there. Realizing that while they have no voice communications with NASA they do have
telemetry, Tish uses a switch to send a
morse code signal to NASA, but it is not noticed by ground control. Andie is too big to reach the oxygen cylinders, so Max suits up for an
EVA. During a critical moment, he panics until Kevin, knowing that Max is a fan of
Star Wars, begins calling him
"Luke" and tells him to "use
the Force", which calms him enough to complete the mission. In the Shuttle, Rudy attempts to decipher the technical schematics to work out how to feed the oxygen into the Shuttle's tanks. His lack of confidence combined with the time pressure frustrates Kathryn, who gives Andie instructions that conflict with Rudy's. Andie follows Rudy's correct instructions. Kathryn's self-confidence is shaken as she realizes her interference nearly caused disaster. The second oxygen tank malfunctions, injuring Andie. Unaware of this, Ground Control begins the autopilot sequence to land the Shuttle – closing the bay doors and stranding Andie outside. She regains consciousness and urges them to leave her and take the re-entry window, as the Shuttle does not have enough oxygen to make the next window. Kathryn is unable to make a decision, but Kevin overrides the autopilot, enabling Max to rescue Andie. Having missed the Edwards re-entry window, the crew comes up with a plan to land at
White Sands, New Mexico, after Rudy recalls the
1982 Space Shuttle mission that landed there. Tish uses Morse Code to signal NASA to let them land there. At Ground Control, Jinx brings the signal to Zach's attention, and they prepare for the White Sands landing. With Andie injured, Kathryn fulfils her role as Shuttle Pilot, but doubts her abilities until Kevin cajoles her into guiding
Atlantis through re-entry and landing it at White Sands. ==Cast==