NASA bans Chinese nationals from engaging in their space program

NASA blocked Chinese citizens with valid U.S. visas from its facilities – a move that effectively bans them from working at one of the most respected space research centers.

According to sources, Chinese nationals can only work as contractors at NASA or to contribute to the research work of students, and they found on September 5 that they lost all contact with NASA’s systems and facilities.

NASA then confirmed this, saying Chinese nationals would be subject to the use of the agency’s “facilities, materials and networks to ensure the safety of our work.”

China’s accelerated space program shocked the United States and exacerbated the race between the two largest economies.

Chinese astronauts have been excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) because Washington has banned NASA from sharing its data with China.

NASA’s latest restrictions will only increase the decline in scientific cooperation due to national security issues.

Beijing and Washington are also becoming more and more alert as they compete to gain technological advantage.

Suspicion has made it impossible for some Chinese students, especially those who study science and technology, once they obtain a visa, and they cannot obtain a visa or even enter the United States.

Recently, there have been several cases in the United States that are suspected of so-called espionage activities by Chinese citizens, especially that scientists belong to scanners.

It is not clear how much attention NASA has given to Chinese nationals working for the institution. Bloomberg News reported that they suddenly found they were denied access to the agency’s data systems and were banned from attending meetings related to their work, including face to face and virtual.

NASA’s press secretary Bethany Stevens told the news media that NASA did take “internal actions related to Chinese nationals, including limiting opportunities for physical and cybersecurity.”

China has no secret to its space ambitions, with both Beijing and Washington competing to send their crew to the moon.

“We are now in the second space race,” NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy told reporters at a press conference Wednesday.

“The Chinese want to go back to the moon before us. This won’t happen.”

Last year, the director of the General Technology Bureau of China’s Manned Space Administration said that the U.S. concerns were “unnecessary”, calling China’s space exploration a “collective man’s mission.”

At a U.S. Senate hearing last week, lawmakers stressed that we need to put their boots on the moon in front of China.

“There is no secret in China,” said Republican Senator Ted Cruz.[If] Our opponents have achieved dominant space capabilities, which will pose far-reaching risks to the United States. [the] The bet cannot be higher. ”

The competition is not just about landing on the moon. It’s also about who can control its resources there.

The moon contains minerals, including rare earths, such as iron and titanium – also helium, as well as helium, used in everything from superconductors to medical devices.