Space Cadet ending explained: Did Rex become an astronaut?

Amazon Prime Video recently dropped a new comedy-drama film Space Cadet on July 4, 2024. The film follows Tiffany Simpson, a Florida party girl who generally goes by Rex. She's a bartender, crocodile wrestler and part-time ghost, gets into a NASA space program to become one of the four As-Can who'd be sent to space.

At the end of Space Cadet, she gets to go to space, on a rescue mission to save fellow As-Cans, despite getting thrown out of the program for being a fraud.

Space Cadet is a light-hearted comedy that doesn't get into the complexities of science or space travel but presents a simple story of a girl achieving her childhood dream.

The film is directed by Liz W. Garcia and stars Emma Roberts, Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu, Desi Lydic, Gabriella Union and Kuhoo Verma in prominent roles.

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Rex bedazzles the space station at the end of Space Cadet

Rex, played by Emma Roberts in Space Cadet, always wanted to be an astronaut, a dream she shared with her mother.

She was a bright student and academically gifted, which got her a full college scholarship. However, around that time, her mother died of cancer, which led to Rex not going to college and staying back to take care of her father.

Years later, she decided to fulfill her dream and applied for an astronaut trainee program at NASA, where four trainees would become As-Cans and go to space. She would have been easily rejected if it was not for her best friend Nadine, played by Poppy Liu, who changed certain things about her qualifications, without informing Rex, of course.

Rex gets into the program and somehow ends up doing great, becoming one of the final five. But, she's caught mid-air and thrown out of the program. However, the As-Cans get stuck in the International Space Station, which is soon going to lose power due to debris getting stuck on its outer part.

Rex proposes the idea to use some kind of bedazzler to clear the debris and is sent to space, along with a fellow rejected trainee Violet Marie, played by Kuhoo Verma, on a spacecraft from a company owned by Rex's childhood buddy. She goes up and bedazzles the space station.

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Rex gets into a relationship with Logan in Space Cadet

Tom Hopper plays Dr. Logan O'Leary, one of the supervisors of the space program.

He and Rex develop a sweet and flirty relationship during the training program. The flirty part mostly comes from Rex, as Logan is a textbook scientist, who's extremely focused on his work and doesn't understand sarcasm.

However, they get to spend one fun night together at a bar and end up almost kissing. But, after learning about Rex's lies, Logan gets angry and heartbroken and breaks any sort of contact with Rex.

Their relationship is repaired after Rex's final heroic act. And in the final montage of the film, Rex says that Logan is now her boyfriend.

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Rex and Violet Marie start a space camp

In the space program, Rex befriends her roommate Violent Marie, played by Kuhoo Verma.

Violet or Vi, is an extremely nervous and underconfident personality who doesn't consider herself to be worthy of NASA. But Rex changes her perspective and gives her a boost of confidence.

After Vi accidentally discovers Rex's secret, she offers to help her with science in return for her help with physical fitness. Both the women develop strong friendships and start acing the program. But Vi is eliminated from the program without any explanation, which leaves her bitter against Rex, as she gets ahead despite being less qualified.

However, in the final act of the film, Rex negotiates Vi's return as her co-pilot in the rescue mission to save the As-Cans. The duo becomes successful, and, after the mission, opens a space camp for children.

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Space Cadet is a simple film with a simple message - dream big and never give up.

Viewers can stream Space Cadet on Amazon Prime Video.