Lifeboat Foundation

The new record was set when China’s three-person Shenzhou 16 mission took to the skies on May 29.

We have a new record for the highest number of people orbiting Earth at any one time. For a short time, the number of people in orbit totaled 17 off-world explorers from a total of five different countries.

The new record was set after the launch of China’s three-person Shenzhou 16 mission on Monday, May 29 at 9:31 p.m. EDT. The previous record was 14 people in orbit, set when the private Inspiration 4 mission took to the skies in September 2021.

NASA

For a short time, the number of people in orbit totaled 17 off-world explorers from a total of five different countries.