NASA has banned Chinese citizens with US visas from participating in agency programs — a dramatic escalation in the space race between China and the United States.

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- NASA has banned Chinese citizens with valid U.S. visas from working on its space programs at its facilities.

NASA employees are once again taking to the streets to raise awareness about deep science cuts and layoffs at the space agency.

The House committee met to discuss the commerce, justice, and science budget bill, which allocates funding to federal agencies like NASA. The bill secures more than $24.8 billion for NASA, about the same amount the agency received in 2024 and 2025—much higher than the administration’s previously proposed $18.8 billion for 2026.

House appropriators offered support, but no specific funding, for several NASA missions slated for cancellation in the administration’s 2026 budget.

A massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami off Russia in late July tested an experimental detection system that had deployed a critical component just the day before.