When was the most recent time that NOBODY was in orbit around the earth?

Question

There has been a _continuous_ human presence in space for a number of years now. On what date did that continuous presence start?

Note: I'm NOT asking, "when did people start going into space." I know that was 1959. I'm asking, "when was the last time outer space was completely free of humans?"

Answer 1

The last date on which there was no human being in space was October 30, 2000. Soyuz TM-31 launched on October 31, taking crew 1 to the International Space Station.

Answer 2

It was completely free of humans before the space station. Humans are on that all the time now.