World Space Week 2026: Which Countries Have Sent People to Space? Check First Astronauts, Space Travellers, Women in Space & Future Missions

World Space Week 2026: World Space Week 2026 gives us a chance to reflect on those who played a role in the history of human spaceflight. It started with Yuri Gagarin’s journey into space and commercial spaceflights that became increasingly popular over the years. According to the latest data, there have been 746 individuals who went to space from 52 countries.

Which Country Sent the First Human to Space?

The Soviet Union became the first country to send a human into space when Yuri Gagarin flew aboard Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961. Gagarin completed one orbit of Earth during his historic 108-minute mission, marking a major milestone in the Space Race and human exploration beyond Earth.

Which Countries Have Sent People to Space?

According to the figures cited in the article, people from 52 countries have travelled beyond the Kármán line, including astronauts and paying space tourists. The United States leads with 369 people, followed by the Soviet Union and Russia with 138 combined, while China has sent 29 people into space using its own rockets.

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