NASA Bars Chinese Nationals from Programs Amid Escalating Space Race

As of September 11, 2025, NASA has taken a significant step in the ongoing space race between the United States and China. The agency has begun barring Chinese nationals with valid visas from participating in its programs, a policy shift that underscores the escalating tensions between the two rival powers.

According to the report, Chinese nationals had previously been allowed to work as contractors or students contributing to NASA's research, but that is no longer the case. On September 5th, several individuals were suddenly locked out of IT systems and barred from in-person meetings, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The move comes amid the Trump administration's intensifying anti-China rhetoric and the two countries' competition to send crews to the Moon. While the US Artemis program is targeting a 2027 lunar landing, it has faced cost overruns and delays. In contrast, China aims to land its "taikonauts" by 2030 and has been more successful in meeting its deadlines.

NASA's acting administrator, Sean Duffy, made it clear that the agency is determined to maintain its leadership in space exploration. "We're in a second space race right now," he told reporters. "The Chinese want to get back to the Moon before us. That's not going to happen. America has led in space in the past, and we are going to continue to lead in space in the future."

The ongoing rivalry extends beyond the Moon, as China is also seeking to become the first country to return a sample from the Martian surface, with a robotic mission slated to launch in 2028 and bring rocks back as soon as 2031. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has signaled its intention to cancel a planned Mars Sample Return mission, a joint project with the European Space Agency.