Let 'em have outer space We got rock 'n' roll.

Description: Based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist.

Cast:
Homer Hickam: Jake Gyllenhaal
John Hickam: Chris Cooper
Miss Riley: Laura Dern
Quentin: Chris Owen
Roy Lee: William Lee Scott
O'Dell: Chad Lindberg
Elsie Hickam: Natalie Canerday
Jim Hickam: Scott Thomas
Leon Bolden: Randy Stripling
Principal Turner: Chris Ellis
Ike Bykovsky: Elya Baskin
Dorothy Platt: Courtney Cole-Fendley
Jake Mosby: David Dwyer
Mr. Dantzler: Terry Loughlin
Valentine Carmina: Kaili Hollister
Coach Gainer: David Copeland
Jensen: Don Henderson Baker
Lenny: Tom Kagy
Trooper One: Donald Thorne
Kid: Justin Whitsett
Neighbor: Terry Nienhuis
Anderson: Brady Coleman
Roper: Rick Forrester
Basil Thorpe: Terrence Gibney
Corvette Guy (as Doug Swander): Douglas Swander
Corvette Girl: Keeli Hale Kimbro
Vernon: Mark Jeffrey Miller
Reverend: Blaque Fowler
Rescue Worker: Don Tilley
Chemistry Teacher: Rockford Davis
Doctor: John Bennes
Barney: Jonathan Fawbush
Fred Smith: Larry Black
Moonshiner: Frank Schuler
Man at Mine: Tommy Smeltzer
Miner: Shawn Lindsay
Quentin's Mom: Ida Ginn
Judge at Welch: Richard Lumpkin
Union Official (as Mark Whitman Johnson): Mark W. Johnson
Union Official: Don Taylor
Mr. Morris: Don G. Campbell
Ivy League Girl (as Elizabeth Byler): Liz Byler
Ivy League Boy: Bradford Ryan Lund
Judge at Indy: Frank Hoyt Taylor
Head Judge (as David Hager): Dave Hager
Tom Webster: Ray Elder
Jack Palmer: Andy Stahl
Wernher von Braun (as Joey DiGaetano): Joe Digaetano
Miner in Elevator (as Thomas Taylor): Tom Taylor
Man in Crowd: Ryder Davis
Nurse: Jenny Patterson
Locomotive Engineer: O. Winston Link
Science Fair Student: Wren Barnes
Coal Miner: Brian Edward Keith

Written by: Homer H. Hickam Jr., Lewis Colick

Director: Joe Johnston

Production: Universal Pictures

Release date: 19 Feb 1999

Box Office: $32,570,685