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In low Earth orbit, a small group of astronauts maintains research and operations on two space stations, with technical routines monitored from Earth and missions that show how human presence outside the planet remains limited.
At an altitude of over 400 kilometers, 10 people currently live outside Earth, distributed between the International Space Station, the ISS, and the Chinese space station Tiangong.
While life continues on the planet, these astronauts and cosmonauts work in orbital laboratories, rely on life support systems, and carry out scientific routines in an environment controlled from Earth.
On the ISS, there are seven crew members linked to space programs of the United States, Russia, and Europe.
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Three arrived aboard Soyuz MS-28, in November 2025.
Another four traveled on the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, launched in February 2026.
On Tiangong, three Chinese astronauts from Shenzhou-21 remain, a mission whose stay was extended by about a month, according to the Chinese space agency.
This number summarizes, on a human scale, the continuous presence of people in low Earth orbit.
The missions involve maintenance tasks, microgravity experiments, studies on the human body in space, and tests of technologies used to sustain long-duration operations outside Earth.
Astronauts on the ISS maintain orbital operations
The International Space Station functions as an orbital laboratory operated in partnership by different agencies.
The current crew combines members who arrived via two transport systems: the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, used by NASA as part of the commercial crew program.
Soyuz MS-28 carried American astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev to the station.
The launch occurred on November 27, 2025, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and the spacecraft docked with the ISS on the same day.
Williams is on his first space mission.
On the station, he serves as a flight engineer and participates in research and technological demonstrations related to human space exploration.
His work includes scientific activities in microgravity and support for the laboratory’s operational routine.
Sergey Kud-Sverchkov holds a command role in Expedition 74.
The cosmonaut had already accumulated orbital experience before the current mission and is part of the team responsible for coordinating tasks in the Russian segment of the station, including system checks, docking procedures, and equipment maintenance.
Sergei Mikaev is also on his first space journey.
He participates in the daily operations of the ISS alongside the other crew members and performs technical tasks related to the functioning of the orbital complex.
The mission of the three has a planned duration of several months, within the crew rotation scheme between Russia, the United States, and international partners.
SpaceX Crew-12 Mission expands space station team
The second ISS group arrived via the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, launched on February 13, 2026 from Florida.
The crew consists of Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway from NASA, Sophie Adenot from the European Space Agency, and Andrey Fedyaev from Roscosmos.
The mission is part of the model where NASA contracts private companies to transport astronauts to the station.
With this format, the agency began regularly using commercial vehicles in its crew rotations, alongside existing international agreements for the use of Soyuz spacecraft.
Jessica Meir is one of the astronauts in the group with previous orbital experience.
In her career, she gained prominence for research in the biological field and for participating in the first all-female spacewalk, performed on a previous mission.
On Crew-12, she works on experiments related to biology, physics, and the performance of scientific equipment in microgravity.
Jack Hathaway is on his first mission in space.
As pilot of Crew-12, he is part of a generation of astronauts trained to operate on missions combining public agencies and private companies.
Aboard the ISS, he participates in research and supports the maintenance of systems necessary for the station’s operation.
Sophie Adenot, a French ESA astronaut, is also on her first orbital mission.
Her presence reinforces European participation in the ISS and includes scientific activities in the Columbus module, used for research developed by institutions from the continent.
Areas of work include biotechnology, medical support for long missions, and equipment testing.
Andrey Fedyaev completes the Crew-12 group.
The Russian cosmonaut had previously traveled to the ISS and works on operational tasks, including ventilation systems, life support, and integration between activities of the station’s Russian and international segments.
Chinese Crew Remains on Tiangong Station
In addition to the seven ISS crew members, three other humans are in orbit on the Chinese Tiangong station.
The Shenzhou-21 mission was launched on October 31, 2025, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
The crew consists of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang.
They arrived at Tiangong for a stay originally planned for around six months, but Chinese authorities announced in April 2026 that the mission would be extended by approximately one month.
Zhang Lu commands the mission and had previous space experience, obtained on Shenzhou-15.
He participates in the continuous operation phase of the Chinese station, which functions as the country’s own platform for low-orbit research.
Wu Fei became the youngest Chinese astronaut sent into space, at 32 years old at the time of launch.
On Tiangong, he works as a flight engineer and participates in scientific experiments, as well as tasks related to the station’s daily operations.
Zhang Hongzhang is a payload specialist and is on his first space mission.
His work is linked to conducting and monitoring experiments on board, an area used by the Chinese program for research in biotechnology, aerospace medicine, materials, and technologies to support future missions.
What is the Routine of Astronauts Outside Earth Like?
Life in orbit depends on permanent technical procedures.
Crews must deal with microgravity, radiation, isolation, defined work cycles, and artificial systems for breathing, water supply, temperature control, and communication with ground teams.
On the ISS, astronauts and cosmonauts receive uncrewed cargo ships with food, fuel, parts, and scientific equipment.
In April 2026, a Progress spacecraft delivered about three tons of supplies to the orbital complex.
This flow of cargo maintains station operations and allows for the continuity of experiments.
On Tiangong, China adopts its own operation, within its manned space program.
The station is used to keep astronauts in orbit for extended periods and test technologies applicable to future missions, according to information released by the Chinese space program.
Both stations show that human presence outside Earth still involves a very restricted group.
Today, the 10 occupants in orbit represent the portion of humanity that lives and works above the atmosphere, on missions continuously monitored by technical teams on the planet.
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