How Many Humans Are in Space? This Cube Knows

Quick — how many humans are in space right now? What do you mean you aren’t certain? That’s vital information, like knowing the day of the week or if you turned the stove off before leaving home.

Alright, alright — maybe this information isn’t especially relevant to our daily lives. But it is worth thinking about more often. Pondering the vastness of the universe and our place in it from time to time would do us a lot more good than scrolling through social media or stressing about our jobs.

Freddie Hong wants to help us think bigger with a little device named ORBIT. It is a tiny, battery-powered cube that can be placed just about anywhere to give us a count of the number of humans presently in space. ORBIT serves as a reminder that, while we may be freaking out about an email we got from a coworker, there is a whole universe out there that makes our problems seem insignificant.

Built around an ESP32 development board, the device connects to the cloud once per day to update its simple two-digit display. That display shows a single number: how many people are currently beyond Earth’s atmosphere, having crossed the Kármán line into space. It’s a quiet, ambient object — no notifications, no distractions — just a steady reminder of humanity’s reach.

Hong originally created ORBIT for personal use, driven by a desire to step away from the constant churn of stressful news and reconnect with something more expansive. After building a handful of units and sharing them with friends, he is now planning to release a small batch for others who might appreciate the perspective it offers.

The device features a durable nylon enclosure produced with Multi Jet Fusion printing that was finished by hand. Its portability allows it to sit unobtrusively on a desk, shelf, or bedside table — always present, but never demanding attention.

The price and release date have not yet been announced, but you can reserve a unit and receive notifications by signing up on the ORBIT website.