September Update

 With the Inspiration 4 mission from SpaceX launching on September 15 , the number of people who have flown into space during 2021 is up to 26.

Upcoming flights include:

• on October 5 - the Russian Soyuz MS-19 with 3 people
• on October 16 - the Chinese Shenzhou 13 mission with 3 people
• on October 31 - the US CREW3 Dragon with 4 people
• on December 8 - the Russian Soyuz MS-20 with 3 people 

Virgin Galactic has also said that they plan a suborbital flight with members of the Italian Air Force no-earlier than mid-October, once they resolve a potential manufacturing issue with a part in their flight control system of the SpaceShip vehicle. The number of people on the flight is unspecified but SpaceShip can accommodate 6 passengers with 2 pilots.

My guess for future people going into space during 2021 is a firm 13 and possibly 6 more from Virgin Galactic. That makes a total of 19 more added to the 26 already going into space for a yearly total of 45.

That guess of 45 is 2 higher than my last estimate. The increase is due to dropping Blue Origin flying anyone (-4) but Virgin Galactic still planning a flight in 2021 (+6).

End of August Update

Number of people who have flown into space during 2021 is holding at 22.

Chronological list of upcoming manned flights with announced dates is:

9/15/21    US - Crew Dragon Inspiration4 with 4 people

10/5/21    Russia - Soyuz MS-19 with 3 people

10/31/21   US - Crew Dragon CREW3 with 4 people

12/8/21    Russia - Soyuz MS-20 with 3 people

For the 5 spacecraft from the United States:

Crew Dragon - No change. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on Dragon is 12. 4 have already gone into space.

Starliner - With the failed launch attempt on August 16, there definitely will not be a crewed mission in 2021. During the count down 13 of Starliner's attitude control valves were stuck closed. Investigation found that they were corroded. The un-crewed mission is on hold until the root cause is determined. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on Starliner is 0.

Orion - no change. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on Orion is 0.

SpaceShip - The FAA is investigating why the first flight varied from its anticipated path. Virgin Galactic cannot fly again until the investigation is closed. Maybe VG is done for the year. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on SpaceShip is 8. 8 have already gone into space.

New Shepard - It was a surprise that Blue Origin flew again on August 25, but with no people. I'm reducing future people to just 4 on 1 flight in 2021. Blue Origin continues to underwhelm me. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on New Shepard is 8, a reduction of 6. 4 have already gone into space.

For Russia - no change. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on Soyuz is 9. 3 have already gone into space.

For China - no change. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on Shenzhou is 6. 3 have already gone into space.

For India - no change. Anticipated people to fly to space in 2021 on Gaganyaan is 0.

My current estimate for 2021 is now down 6 to 43 since the last estimate. The reduction is due to only 1 possible future flight from Blue Origin on the New Shepard.

22 have flown into space and 21 more are still anticipated, 8 from SpaceX, 4 from Blue Origin, 6 from Russia and 3 from China.