After the launch of the People’s Republic of China, a new record for the number of people in orbit was set.

The launch of the Chinese Shenzhou-16 spacecraft on board was successful. About it reported China Manned Space Flight Program Administration (CMSA). Now there is a record number of people in orbit of the Earth – 17, write “RIA News”.

According to the agency, there were three taikonauts (Chinese astronauts) on board the Shenzhou-16. Three cosmonauts were already at the Tiangong orbital station, to which the ship was flying. In addition, 11 people are already on the ISS, including the crews of the Soyuz MS-23 of three people, Crew Dragon (4 people) and the private company Axiom Space of the AX-2 mission (4 people).

The previous record was set on September 16, 2021, when 14 people were in orbit at the same time, including seven from the ISS, three taikonauts on the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft, and four US citizens as part of a private mission on the Crew Dragon spacecraft.