In a future where space travel is commonplace, Ai Tanabe ventures into the cosmos by joining Technora Corporation's Debris Section. Tasked with removing hazardous space junk, Ai faces ridicule due to the department's low status and meager resources. Despite the challenges, Ai befriends her quirky colleagues like Philippe Myers, the affable chief clerk, the enigmatic Edelgard Rivera, and the fiery Hachirouta Hoshino. Planetes delves into the lives of these everyday individuals amidst the vastness of space, highlighting their yearnings for a place among the stars.