NASA's New Rule: No Access for Chinese Nationals

Tue Oct 21 2025 10:44:16 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

NASA restricts access for Chinese nationals, raising concerns about collaboration and the space race between the US and China.

NASA has officially banned Chinese citizens holding valid US visas from accessing its facilities, marking a significant step in the escalating competition between the US and China's space advancements. This move has effectively eliminated opportunities for Chinese nationals to contribute to NASA as contractors or students. The ban is seen as a reaction to growing security concerns amid China's aggressive space ambitions.

The US space agency NASA has blocked Chinese citizens with valid US visas from its facilities, effectively barring them from working at one of the most respected space research centers.

Chinese nationals, who could only work at NASA as contractors or students contributing to research, were informed on September 5 that they lost all access to NASA’s systems and facilities, as reported by Bloomberg News.

NASA confirmed this restriction, emphasizing the need to maintain security by limiting access to its facilities, materials and networks. With concerns over China's accelerating space program, this decision has intensified the competitive atmosphere between the two major economies.

As Chinese astronauts remain excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) due to US restrictions on data sharing, the latest ban contributes to declining scientific collaboration fueled by national security apprehensions.

Conflicts around visa obtainment for Chinese students, especially in science and technology, are also perceived as a consequence of this increasing distrust. Allegations of espionage by Chinese nationals in academic sectors have added to the immediate concerns surrounding scientific exchanges.

Setting the stage for a renewed space race, NASA officials, including acting administrator Sean Duffy, voiced commitment to achieving lunar goals before China, addressing the strategic importance of space control and resources. We are in a second space race right now, Duffy famously stated, underscoring the shift in focus toward technologies developed in the domain.

As both nations vie for dominance in space, the implications of these restrictions will likely resonate throughout the scientific communities on both sides.