Two weeks ago we addressed Phase 2 of NASA’s rollout of RFID technology at the Kennedy Space Center. In an interview with RFID 24-7 this week, Boeing officials said that Phase 2 — which not only calls for tracking high dollar assets but all tool items in NASA’s instrument library — will be complete by the end of February.

Boeing will consume about 4,000 active RFID tags for the project, and about 65 RFID readers. The RFID tags are about the size of a quarter and therefore do not interfere with the operation of the torque wrenches and other tools. NASA is using active tags so they will not interfere with flight hardware on the launch pad.

Phase 3 of the project, to be rolled out next year, will extend the tool inventory management system to include tool calibration. In addition, an application will be rolled out to deal with hazardous chemical protocols. NASA employees working with various hazardous chemicals like anhydrous ammonia will eventually wear active RFID tags so their whereabouts can be tracked in the event of an emergency evacuation.

“That will be our big push,” said Phil Lintereur, a CAPPS fluids, avionics and propulsion manager for Boeing at Kennedy Space Center. “Not only tool inventory and calibration but obviously to enhance our personnel safety.”

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