Rocketry is national defense level of security. You have to have a security clearance to work on that. Non us citizens are generally excluded. It's like investigating the FAA because only US citizens can be air traffic controllers
What Ed says is correct. SpaceX basically has to hire like a government defense contractor, making it very hard for non US-citizens to meaningfully contribute to all projects.
Clemens Metternich
So SpaceX prefers to hire legally. What's the problem here?
He's legally required to only hire US Citizens (and not immigrants even if they become citizens) due to ITAR regulations. Each exception to this must personally be approved by the Secretary of Defense, and renewed each two years.
It is called ITAR, and it's an international treaty regulating arms and proliferation of Weapons of Mass destruction. Which Rockets are!!
Even Elon has to get reapproved each two years because he's originally a South African citizen.
It is called ITAR, and it's an international treaty regulating arms and proliferation of Weapons of Mass destruction. Which Rockets are!!
Even Elon has to get reapproved each two years because he's originally a South African citizen.