Character Relationship Map: The Space Between Us

Characters

• Gardner Elliot (played by Asa Butterfield) — protagonist

  A teenager born on Mars who is raised in secret by scientists. Highly intelligent and determined, he travels to Earth to find his father despite the severe health risks caused by Earth's atmosphere.

• Tulsa (played by Britt Robertson) — protagonist

  A street-smart girl from Colorado who lives in foster care. She befriends Gardner online, helps him search for his father, and eventually supports his return to Mars while preparing for space training...

• Kendra Wyndham (played by Carla Gugino) — supporting

  An astronaut who helps raise Gardner on Mars. She advocates for his opportunity to go to Earth, accompanies him during his journey, helps save his life, and later adopts Tulsa.

• Nathaniel Shepherd (played by Gary Oldman) — supporting

  The CEO of Genesis who initially opposes Gardner's trip to Earth because of the medical dangers. He is later revealed to be Gardner's biological father and helps save him by taking him into orbit.

• Sarah Elliot (played by Janet Montgomery) — supporting

  An astronaut who becomes pregnant during the mission to Mars. She gives birth to Gardner after landing and dies shortly afterward from eclampsia.

• Tom Chen (played by BD Wong) — supporting

  A Genesis director who supports Gardner's training for Earth and keeps the plan secret from Nathaniel. Nathaniel blames him when Gardner reaches Earth.

• NASA Chief Doctor (played by Beth Bailey) — minor
• NASA Executive (played by Morse Bicknell) — minor
• Shaman Neka (played by Gil Birmingham) — cameo

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Nathaniel Shepherd → NASA Executive (Professional Institutional Collaborator) — Nathaniel operates alongside Earth-based authorities during the emergency.

  Nathaniel follows Gardner's medical crisis and coordinates with the NASA environment surrounding Gardner's return to space.

• Gardner Elliot → NASA Executive (Power Institutional Subject) — Gardner is subject to institutional control while NASA assesses his condition.

  Gardner is held at NASA for quarantine and medical evaluation after arriving on Earth.

• Gardner Elliot → NASA Chief Doctor (Professional Patient And Examiner) — Medical personnel evaluate Gardner's unusual physiology and Earth survival prospects.

  Gardner is quarantined at NASA while medical tests determine whether he can survive on Earth, and later hospital X-rays reveal carbon tubes in his bon...

• Tulsa → Kendra Wyndham (Family Adoptive Mother And Daughter) — Kendra becomes Tulsa's adoptive parent at the end of the film.

  After Gardner returns to Mars, Kendra adopts Tulsa.

• Nathaniel Shepherd → Tom Chen (Professional Executive And Director) — Nathaniel holds authority within Genesis while Tom manages its operations.

  Nathaniel video calls Tom Chen as Genesis director and later becomes angry with him for keeping Gardner's training secret.

• Kendra Wyndham → Nathaniel Shepherd (Professional Associate) — Kendra works with Nathaniel on decisions concerning Gardner's safety and future.

  Kendra video calls Nathaniel about Gardner and later travels with Gardner during the mission to Earth.

• Kendra Wyndham → Gardner Elliot (Family Guardian) — Kendra functions as Gardner's primary guardian during his childhood on Mars.

  Kendra raises Gardner on Mars with the other scientists and later adopts Tulsa.

• Nathaniel Shepherd → Sarah Elliot (Family Spouses) — Nathaniel and Sarah were Gardner's parents and were connected through marriage.

  Gardner finds a wedding ring and a video connected to Sarah and the man he believes is his father; the plot later confirms Nathaniel is Gardner's fath...

• Nathaniel Shepherd → Gardner Elliot (Family Father And Son) — Nathaniel is Gardner's biological father and the person who ultimately helps save his life.

  Gardner eventually realizes that Nathaniel is his father after asking him about Sarah.

• Gardner Elliot → Sarah Elliot (Family Mother And Son) — Sarah is Gardner's biological mother, whose death shapes his search for his origins.

  Sarah gives birth to Gardner on Mars and dies shortly afterward from eclampsia.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Tulsa → Shaman Neka (Alliance Temporary Collaborator) — Tulsa receives practical assistance from Neka during the search.

  Neka allows Tulsa to use his computer to identify the beach house shown in Gardner's video.

• Gardner Elliot → Shaman Neka (Narrative Information Seeker) — Neka helps Gardner advance his search for the person he believes is his father.

  Gardner and Tulsa find Neka, who lets Tulsa use his computer to locate the beach house from Gardner's video.

• Gardner Elliot → Tulsa (Social Trusted Friend) — Tulsa becomes Gardner's closest companion during his journey on Earth.

  Gardner regularly talks with Tulsa online, shares his plans, and asks her to help him find his father.

• Tom Chen → Gardner Elliot (Alliance Advocate) — Tom supports Gardner's opportunity to experience Earth.

  Tom keeps Gardner's Earth training secret so that Gardner can travel to Earth despite Nathaniel's refusal.

Story Analysis

A boy born on Mars crosses worlds to find his father and discovers that belonging requires both truth and connection.

Plot Progression

1. A Child Hidden on Mars — The Genesis mission reaches Mars, where Sarah gives birth to Gardner and dies soon afterward. Gardner is kept secret and raised by Kendra and the scientists.
2. The Search for a Father — Gardner discovers a wedding ring and a video connected to Sarah. His online friendship with Tulsa gives him the confidence to pursue the identity of his father.
3. Earth Beneath His Feet — Gardner secretly trains for Earth and arrives despite Nathaniel's objections. After escaping NASA, he and Tulsa begin searching for the man in the video.
4. The Heart Cannot Stay — Gardner's medical condition worsens while he and Tulsa travel toward the beach house. X-rays convince Tulsa that Gardner was born on Mars.
5. A Father Across Worlds — The beach-house search fails, but Nathaniel rescues Gardner from the ocean and is revealed as his father. Gardner survives in orbit, returns to Mars, and leaves Tulsa determined to follow.