VSS Unity

Now, the record for the most people in space at the same time was set much more recently, in 2023.

And that record was tied again in 2024 when, drumroll please, 11 people were on the International Space Station, three on China's Tiangong Space Station, and six were aboard Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane, which spent only part of its hour-long flight in suborbital space.

So the record is 20 people, and it lasted less than an hour.

Humans establishing a permanent presence in orbit is an incredible achievement, and more are on their way.