Toyota Tundra to Transport Space Shuttle

Toyota Tundra Entrusted With Historic Transportation of Endeavour Through California Science Center Partnership to Promote Education and Space Awareness

 

On Friday 12 October the Toyota Tundra will be towing the space shuttle Endeavour over the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. The tow will assist the California Science Center Foundation in the movement of the historic icon over the Manchester Boulevard Bridge, an area that requires a different tow mechanism than other portions of the route for weight distribution purposes. In preparation to assist in any capacity needed, the Tundra was extensively tested to meet the requirements. This tow of Endeavour by the Toyota Tundra at this location will be the only one its kind taking place along the route.

 

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) announced that the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck will tow the space shuttle Endeavour during its final journey to the California Science Center, where it will go on permanent display.

 

Tested extensively prior to the announcement, the 2012 Tundra is slated to safely tow the 300,000 pound historic artifact on the final leg of its journey. Endeavour will be towed using a stock 2012 Tundra CrewMax 1/2–ton pickup, identical to models currently found in Toyota dealerships, with no additional modifications made to increase towing capacity or generate more power. The Tundra CrewMax is equipped with Toyota’s powerful 5.7L V8 engine, producing a maximum tow capacity of 10,000 pounds. TMS has done extensive testing and worked with The Sarens Group, a heavy lifting and engineered transport company, to develop a dolly specifically for hauling the Endeavour.

 

“There is no larger or more recognizable icon of the U.S. space program’s success than the shuttle, and to have it towed by the Toyota Tundra is not only an incredible example of the capabilities of the truck, but an honor to be part of history,” said Ed Laukes, TMS Vice President of Marketing Communications. “The entire journey is something the world will be watching, and gives us a chance to prove that the Tundra is built to do any job – even tow the space shuttle.”

 

Participation in the transportation of the shuttle is part of an ongoing partnership between TMS and the Science Center in an effort to provide support and awareness of the space program and continuing education of the public through exhibits and programs. Toyota currently has a Tundra truck on display in a Science Center exhibit demonstrating the physics of leverage. The tow Tundra will replace the existing Tundra and will be on display after the Endeavour exhibit opens on October 30, 2012.

 

The tow program was developed in partnership with Saatchi & Saatchi LA (SSLA), the agency of record for TMS, and the Science Center, and serves as a unique way to demonstrate Tundra’s capabilities and towing capacity. In collaboration with SSLA and Science Center, TMS has developed a host of online resources and activities that provide behind-the-scenes videos, photos, activities for children and information about the Tundra Endeavour project and can be found at www.toyota.com/TundraEndeavour.

 

Check out the #TundraEndeavour Tweet Drive. For each tweet, Toyota will donate $50 to the California Science Center. http://toyota.com/tundraendeavour/#tweet-drive

 

Visitors can share content, sign up for email alerts and participate in re-Tweeting information that will help contribute money to the California Science Center for further development of exhibits and displays.

 

WHEN: October 12, 2012, Evening

 

WHERE: Manchester Boulevard Bridge, nearly a quarter-mile span total over the 405 Freeway, near LAX