In the 2070's, mankind has established a mining base on the moon and dispatched men to explore Mars. The first manned mission to Jupiter is also in progress. As a result of this interplanetary activity, space debris is increasing and its collection has become a new profession. In the 1st volume of Makoto Yukimura's Planetes, we meet Yuri, Hachimaki, and Fee. Hachimaki's dream is to buy his own spaceship. He thinks he can earn money quickly by joining the crew of the first expedition to Jupiter. Yuri lost his wife in a space travel accident, and became a debris collector out of a desperate desire to discover some remembrance of her. Fee takes great pride in her profession and works very hard, having left behind her husband and young son on earth. In a dark and cruel universe, each of these space junkers grapples with his or her own personal problems.

Hachimaki Hoshino
A young space debris disposal man with aspirations of more glamorous space work, perhaps even owning his own spaceship in which to traverse the stars. However, he does suffer from space sickness, physical debilities and psychological anguish triggered by isolation and life in weightlessness. Also goes by Hachi or Hachirota.

Fee
A tomboy beauty with a severe nicotine habit who serves as operation coordinator for Hachi and Yuri's space walks. She can't be happy staying where she is for her whole life, but she really doesn't have much direction.

Pops
A repair man at space dock who quips about Hachi's team always damaging its ship.

Harry Roland
A veteran astronaut whose die-hard love of space drives him to attempt suicide when it look like he has to give it up.

Nono
A twelve-year-old who is one of only four children that have lived their entire lives on the Moon. She is part of a long study regarding the effects of space on human development. A good kid, committed to staying in space until the study is through, she does long to swim in an ocean, look at a blue sky and breath fresh Earth air.

Makoto Yukimura
Makoto Yukimura began publishing Planetes in Japan in 1999 in Kodansha's Morning magazine. The first volume came out in tankoubon (graphic novel) form in 2000.

Yukimura-san has become known for the heartfelt 'ordinariness' of his approach to life in space and the depth of the characterization he achieves in his painstakingly beautiful illustrations.