Record 17 people are in Earth orbit at the same time right now

(Image courtesy Pixabay)

(SPACE) – The total number of people in Earth orbit is now at a record high, though only for a short time.

With the launch of China's three-person Shenzhou 16 mission on Monday (May 29) at 9:31 p.m. EDT (0131 GMT or 9:31 a.m. Beijing Time on May 30), the population in orbit grew to 17.

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The previous record, set during the privately funded Inspiration4 mission in September 2021, was 14 people.

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