Toyota’s Tundra Tows the Shuttle Endeavour Partway Home

[xcel]

A cheering crowd and cameras rolling recorded this little drive into history

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 13, 2012

A simple PR: Mission Accomplished…

A non-modified and locally purchased 5.7L V8 equipped Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4x4 half-ton pickup truck successfully towed the 150,000 pound space shuttle Endeavour across a bridge spanning the I-405 freeway last night. The tow was a result of a 20-year partnership between Toyota and the California Science Center to raise awareness of the space program and continue public education through exhibits and events.

The tow over the I-405 was one of the trickiest parts of the shuttle's 12 mile route along downtown city streets from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to its new home at the California Science Center.

The shuttle, its exterior weathered by millions of miles of space travel and two dozen re-entries, will be the highlight of a new exhibit at the Science Center.

The Tundra assisted in the transport of the Endeavour as it journeyed over the Manchester Boulevard Bridge—an area that required a lighter tow mechanism than other portions of the route for weight distribution purposes.

According to Toyota, company engineers did extensive testing and worked with the Sarens Group, a heavy lifting and engineering transport company, to develop a dolly to move the Endeavour over the bridge.

The Tundra was piloted by longtime Toyota professional driver Matt McBride. Riding along was Garrett Reisman, one of the astronauts aboard the orbiter when it traveled to the International Space Station in 2008. From start to finish, it took 5 minutes to cross the bridge.

The Endeavour – Nearing her final resting spot


After a voyage of millions of miles, I will not go quietly into the night

The Science Center currently has a working Tundra exhibit demonstrating the physics of leverage. The Tundra used to tow the shuttle will replace the existing truck when the Endeavour exhibit opens on Oct. 30, 2012.

[lxmike]

Sorry, But i am not Impressed at all! How Many Trucks Tow in Four wheel drive low range???

Nothing Against Toyota, but I am sure any Other Comparable Truck Could have Done this...

[RedylC94]

Originally Posted by lxmike

Nothing Against Toyota, but I am sure any Other Comparable Truck Could have Done this...

... and so could any 40-year-old farm tractor of equal or greater weight.

[rfruth]

I don't know what this cost Toyota but it was worth every penny - bet there are pics of this all over the walls at TMMTX http://www.toyota.com/about/our_busi...mtx/index.html

[herm]

Originally Posted by lxmike

Sorry, But i am not Impressed at all! How Many Trucks Tow in Four wheel drive low range???
Nothing Against Toyota, but I am sure any Other Comparable Truck Could have Done this...

Not they could not, Toyota just handed Ford and GM their a**. Writing the fanboi truck stuff is harder than it looks.

[robh210]

I love how they are chanting "USA" as a Toyota is towing it.

[RichXKU]

Originally Posted by robh210

I love how they are chanting "USA" as a Toyota is towing it.

I love it too... Because it's accurate.

[priusCpilot]

Guys the best part was the Donut in the back ground! Randy's the best ever period! I make runs there on the weekends for my fix! hehe

[xcel]

Hi All:

The California Science Center and Toyota add a new twist to the Tundra that towed the Space Shuttle story. Wish I was there to see it too!

California Science Center Unveils Giant Lever Exhibit Featuring the Toyota Tundra Used During Space Shuttle Endeavour Transport

Yesterday the California Science Center, in partnership with Toyota, unveiled the Toyota Tundra full-size pick-up truck used to tow the Space Shuttle Endeavour over the 405 Freeway Manchester Boulevard Bridge during its journey through Los Angeles and Inglewood Streets. The Tundra is on display as part of the Giant Lever Exhibit, located in the California Science Center/California African American Museum parking structure adjacent to the science center entrance. The unveiling commemorated Endeavour’s last flight STS-134, which launched May 16 and landed in the early morning hours of June 1, 2011.

With the Giant Lever, California Science Center visitors can lift the Toyota Tundra that pulled the 150,000-pound orbiter.

Taking part in the unveiling were Jeffrey Rudolph, president, California Science Center; Michael Rouse, vice president, Diversity, Philanthropy and Community Affairs, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Lynda Oschin, chair of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation; and former astronaut Garrett Reisman, Ph.D., who flew aboard Endeavour and rode in the Tundra at the time of the Endeavour tow.

Five year-old “future astronauts” Noah Lara and Samantha Comiskey, dressed in orange jumpsuits, demonstrated the science behind the Giant Lever Exhibit. A lever consists of a rigid beam pivoting on a fulcrum. By standing further away from the fulcrum, the two applied less force and were able to lift the Tundra full-size pickup truck.

In addition to the donation of the Tundra, at the unveiling, Rouse presented a check from Toyota’s Tundra Endeavour Tweet Drive to the California Science Center Foundation. Toyota organized a tweet drive during Endeavour’s transport from LAX to the California Science Center, where twitter followers re-tweeted to raise $401,300.

Wayne