1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lauren Leger
The Power Group
lauren@thepowergroup.com
+1 508.498.8433
NASA Improves Inventory Time by 30% Using DataSpan’s Passive RFID
Technology and Nears Completion of its Agency-wide RFID-based Asset Inventory
Management Solution
(DALLAS) – March 17, 2015 – DataSpan announces today that it is implementing a radio
frequency identification (RFID) system for NASA to more efficiently inventory and manage
over 250,000 assets spread over its Space Centers, Research Centers and other facilities
throughout the United States. The final integrated solution includes Gen 2 RFID-compliant
metal mount tags from Omni-ID, Alien handheld readers and customized software from
EDP, LLC. Inventories include a wide variety of computer assets, vehicles, cameras,
radios, lab equipment, calibration components, mobile tracking systems and specialized
asset types unique to the NASA mission.
According to Miguel A. Rodriquez, NASA HQ Equipment Program Manager, “Under
NASA’s current conditions of reduced Center staffing for many support services, we
needed a faster way to conduct and track our large and mobile asset population with
fewer personnel. After studying several approaches, we began an RFID Proof of Concept
effort at Langley Research Center in Virginia with DataSpan in 2012. DataSpan took the
time to understand our requirements and has provided us with a complete, customized
end-to-end solution from design, hardware procurement, custom software installation,
SAP integration services and operator training. The final result has improved our time to
conduct inventories by approximately 30% using passive, Gen 2 tags, readers and
customized software. DataSpan and their team worked very closely with our Center
personnel and provided a seamless RFID data flow interface to our SAP Property
Management Module,” he added.
“We have installed RFID components and trained NASA and contractor staff over the past
several months at nine of twelve targeted locations,” said Jim Ferguson, DataSpan’s
Director of Data Security Technology. “Much of the success of this project is directly due
to the involvement and participation of NASA’s senior management team as well as IT
technical staff at each of the NASA facilities. Our primary project goal is to ensure that
NASA’s asset management personnel are completely self-sufficient in the entire RFID
lifecycle from tag enrollment, handheld and middleware software inventory operation to
the SAP database integration process.”
DataSpan partnered with PentaSys, LLC to provide the on-site software technical and
training services for EDP both during and after each on-site installation. “We modified the
EnaSys handheld and middleware to match existing NASA asset inventory processes as

2. closely as possible and comply with Agency IT security requirements. Fortunately, NASA
had several years ago established a uniform barcode-based inventory system and we were
able to leverage that system and easily integrate the newly generated RFID data into their
legacy SAP back-end with minimal effort,” said Ferguson.
“At DataSpan, we realize the critical nature of NASA’s Asset Inventory Management
Solution to smooth running missions and operations,” said Nancy Shemwell, DataSpan’s
COO. “In step with our unwavering commitment to customer value, I am pleased to see
that the project is delivering the desired functionality and services, the rollout is
progressing on schedule and is exceeding NASA’s expectations.”
About NASA
Established in 1959, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the US
government agency responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and
aerospace research. Since that time, most U.S. space exploration efforts have been led by
NASA including the Apollo moon-landing mission, the Skylab space station, and the
Space Shuttle. Currently, NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is
overseeing the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the Space Launch
System and Commercial Crew vehicles and a number of unmanned missions. NASA also
leads several scientific research efforts including medicine in space, ozone depletion, salt
evaporation, energy management and earth science. For more information, see
www.nasa.gov
About DataSpan
DataSpan is a Dallas-based leading provider of Data Lifecycle Management solutions,
guiding its 4,000 worldwide customers to the best solutions to fit their data needs at all
stages of data management. Since 1974, DataSpan has been a trusted partner for more
than half of the Fortune 1000 offering tailored solutions for data center infrastructure and
services; storage management; and retail mobility, wireless and based asset management.
The company embraces innovation, relies upon proven technology, top-tier technical
partners and provides a full range of solutions to optimize every data infrastructure. For
more information, visit www.dataspan.com.
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