Nasa bans Chinese nationals from working on its space programmes

September 11, 2025

NASA has recently blocked Chinese citizens with valid U.S. visas from accessing its facilities, systems, and networks, effectively preventing them from working at the agency. The restriction, implemented on September 5, affects Chinese nationals who previously worked at NASA as contractors or students contributing to research. This measure comes amid heightened competition between the U.S. and China in space exploration, with both nations racing to reach the Moon first and potentially control its valuable resources.

Who is affected

Chinese citizens with valid U.S. visas who were working at NASA as contractors or students
Chinese nationals who contributed to research at NASA
Scientists engaged in collaborative work between the U.S. and China
Chinese students studying science and technology in the U.S.

What action is being taken

NASA is restricting Chinese nationals from using its "facilities, materials and networks"
Chinese nationals are being denied access to NASA's data systems
Chinese citizens are being barred from participating in both in-person and virtual meetings related to their work
NASA is implementing physical and cybersecurity access restrictions to its facilities for Chinese nationals

Why it matters

It intensifies the space race between the U.S. and China, particularly regarding Moon missions
The restriction further reduces scientific collaboration between the world's two largest economies
It reflects growing national security concerns and mutual suspicion between the U.S. and China
The competition extends beyond reaching the Moon to controlling valuable lunar resources including minerals, rare earths, metals, and helium
It represents part of a broader pattern of declining technological cooperation amid espionage concerns

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC