Based on a true story, in 1957, Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a high school student in Coalwood, West Virginia. His father, John (Chris Cooper), is coal miner who loves his job and expects his son to follow in his footsteps. But Homer becomes interested in rocket science after seeing Sputnik 1 crossing the sky. Despite his father’s disapproval, Homer begins designing and building missiles with the help of friends and a sympathetic teacher (Laura Dern). Rocketry, he hopes, will provide his ticket to a better life.