Knotts is Royal Fleming, a carnival worker who runs a spaceship ride for kids. Concerned about his future, Royal's dad sends an application to NASA - in his son's name! After being accepted, Royal sets out for Florida - only to discover his new job involves sweeping floors, not space travel. That is until NASA learns of Russia's plans to put a civilian into orbit - and chooses Royal to man its own experimental flight. Summoning his courage, the reluctant astronaut blasts into space, and an unlikely hero is born!