A Toyota Tundra half-ton truck without any special modifications successfully pulled the 150,000-pound space shuttle Endeavour across Manchester bridge comprising the country's most popular highway on Friday night.
This record was a result of 20-year collaboration between Toyota and the California Science Center to increase attention of the space program and continue public knowledge through exhibits and activities.
The shuttle’s 12-mile path over town roads to its new home at the California Science Center involved one passing over the 405 Highway. The Tundra served in the transportation of the Endeavour as it moved over the Manchester Boulevard Bridge—an place that needed a less heavy tow procedure than other areas the path for weight distribution requirements.
Toyota did comprehensive examining and proved helpful with the Sarens Group, a work and technological innovation transportation company, to create a dolly to move the Endeavour over the bridge.
The vice president of community affairs and philanthropy for Toyota named Michael Rouse said that “We have joined with the California Science Centre from 1990’s as a portion of our ongoing commitment to attract the young peoples in the engineering, innovation and future technology, and we are honored to give our grate cooperation for this historic record”
The design chosen was a stock 2012 Tundra CrewMax 4×4 with Toyota’s 5.7-liter iForce V8, generating 381 hourcepower. All Tundra pickups are created specifically at Toyota Motor Production, Texas in San Antonio. The vehicle used to tow the shuttle was bought from a Southern California Toyota supplier, with no variations or special equipment included for the tow.
The Tundra was driven by long-time Toyota expert driver Matt McBride. Driving along was Garrett Reisman, one of astronauts aboard the orbiter when it visited to the Worldwide Area Place in 2008. From beginning to end, it took 5 minutes to move from the bridge.
