NASA adopts ISO 10303 for Data Exchange

Software that enable data interchange, compliant with these STEP standards, must be available to all CAE/CAD/CAM users at each NASA Center. The purpose of this NASA standard is to establish the minimum tool suite for data interchange standards to support interoperability among the engineering design and manfacturing communities of NASA. This standard, called "Computer-Aided Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Data Interchange Standards", cites several Application Protocols (APs) within ISO 10303 as preferred standards. These standards include AP203, AP209, AP210, AP225 and AP227 for exchanging data among product data management systems, mechanical and electronic CAD/CAM systems, civil and facilities CAD systems, and computer-aided engineering/analysis systems.

A STEP workshop was held January 27-29 at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The workshop was attended by more than 70 persons and in addition, the seminar was web-casted live with more than 1500 viewers.

Major attention was drawn to the new Application Protocol for Systems Engineering (SE), AP 233 and the interoperability between mechanical and electrical (PCB) domains. The workshop was introduced by NASA CIO, Mr Lee Holcomb and presenters were representing leading companies like NASA, Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins, Boeing, NLR, ESTEC, JPL, EPM and others.

Further information http://step.nasa.gov/