• NASA has barred Chinese nationals on US visas from accessing its facilities.
• The restrictions are part of rising tensions between the US and China in space exploration.
• Chinese citizens have lost access to NASA's systems, including participation in meetings.
• The ban highlights increasing concerns about China's achievements in space technology.
• NASA leadership emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining a competitive edge.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has implemented restrictions effectively barring Chinese nationals with US visas from working at its facilities, amid escalating concerns over China's advancing capabilities in space exploration. NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens confirmed the action, stating that it involved “restricting physical and cybersecurity access” to safeguard the agency's operations. As of September 5, these individuals have been denied access to NASA’s data systems and meetings, fundamentally curtailing their ability to contribute to the agency's work, according to aa and scmp.

This decision is part of a broader trend reflecting Washington's increasing concerns about Beijing's progress in space technology. Previously, Chinese nationals could work with NASA as contractors or researchers, but now all such interactions are curtailed. This intensified restriction follows fears that China's burgeoning space ambitions could significantly surpass those of the United States, particularly with plans for lunar missions, according to BBC and scmp.