Population of space

Human population records in orbit developed from 1 in 1961, 2 in 1962, 4–7 in 1969, 7–11 in 1984 and 13 in 1995, to 14 in 2021, 17 in 2023 and 19 in 2024, developing into a continuous population of no less than 10 people on two space stations since 5 June 2022 (as of 2024).^[1] The last time were no people in space was 30 October 2000. After this, Expedition 1 to the International Space Station (ISS) launched. Since then, the station has been continually occupied.^[2]

Timeline of records

See also: List of spaceflight records

In December 1965, the record of the most people in space became four, after the launch of both Gemini 6A and Gemini 7.^[3]

In October 1969, the record became seven when the Soviet Union's Soyuz 6, Soyuz 7 and Soyuz 8 were in orbit at the same time.^[4]

In March 1995, the record of the number of people in space became 13 after the launch of Soyuz TM-21. At this time there were two cosmonauts and one American astronaut on the Soyuz, headed towards the three cosmonauts aboard Mir. There were also seven astronauts on Space Shuttle Endeavour.^[5]

In September 2021, the record number of people in space became 14 after the launch of SpaceX's Inspiration4.^[6]

In December 2021, the record number of people in space (but not orbit) became 19 after the brief suborbital Blue Origin NS-19 spaceflight.^[6]

In May 2023, the record number of people in orbit became 17 after the launch of China's Shenzhou 16 mission. Three people were from Shenzhou 16, three from Shenzhou 15, seven people from Expedition 69 on the International Space Station and four people from Axiom Mission 2, who had recently departed from the ISS.^[6]

In May 2023, the number of people in space (but not in orbit) was 20 for five minutes when Virgin Galactic Unity 25 took place. This included 6 people from Unity 25, 3 people from Shenzhou 15, seven people from Expedition 69 and four people from Axiom Mission 2.^[6]

In September 2024, the record of people in orbit became 19 after the launch of Soyuz MS-26.^[7] This included the three astronauts on the MS-26 mission, three more on China's Tiangong space station, four people on the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, and nine more on board the ISS.^[8]

Future predictions

Jeff Bezos, the founder of the American aerospace company Blue Origin, has stated that he believes that space colonisation may lead to millions of space colonies and cause the human population to reach the trillions.^[9]

See also

• Human presence in space