The nuclear processes on accreting neutron stars in X-ray binaries are related to a number of open astrophysical questions. I review these open questions, their relation to the \alpha p, rp and crust processes, and the nuclear data needed to solve the problems. Data on very unstable proton and neutron rich nuclei are most critical, and therefore radioactive beam experiments together with progress in the theoretical understanding of nuclei far from stability are needed.

PACS numbers: 97.80.Jp, 97.60.Jd, 26.30.+k