When an unfortunate incident in a space shuttle simulator turns twelve year old Franklin Wilson into an accidental viral sensation, he attracts the attention of Xavier Drake, the third richest person in the world, who invites Franklin to take part in a competition to become the actual first kid in space. But after the competition launches, and the five young contestants begin to compete in a series of trials that will see them eliminated one by one until only the winner remains, Franklin discovers that everything is not what it seems – and it turns out there is much more at stake than just a trip to space…