Citizens of 55 countries had flown in space by June 2025, starting with the Soviet Union's Yuri Gagarin on 12 April 1961. Only three countries have launched pe…
The Soviet Union. Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth once on Vostok 1 on 12 April 1961.
Alan Shepard flew a suborbital hop 23 days after Gagarin. John Glenn made the first US orbit on 20 February 1962.
Czechoslovakia's Vladimir Remek. Soviet Soyuz then flew allies from Poland to Cuba, Mongolia and France.
East Germany's Sigmund Jahn in 1978. Ulf Merbold (1983) was West Germany's first.
Rakesh Sharma flew on a Soviet Soyuz on 3 April 1984, the 14th nationality in space.
Saudi prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, on Space Shuttle Discovery in June 1985.
A TBS journalist, Toyohiro Akiyama, and chemist Helen Sharman, via the private Project Juno.
It made the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada partners and the main route to orbit for guests.
Only three: the Soviet Union/Russia, the United States and China.
They buy or barter seats. Russian Soyuz flew Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea and the UAE's first.
Private flights added 13 countries, from Egypt and Pakistan to Norway, Malta and Nigeria. Eight are suborbital only.
Second in orbit and first on the ISS, but third Indian citizen in space after Thotakura's 2024 Blue Origin flight.
No. It is a Special Administrative Region of China; its first space traveller flew in May 2026.
Gaganyaan's crewed flight is now planned for 2027, after the uncrewed G1 test with Vyommitra.
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