Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Toyota Tundra Tows Endeavor Shuttle — Parallax Forums

Toyota Tundra Tows Endeavor Shuttle

ercoerco Posts: 20,259
edited 2012-10-17 17:09 in General Discussion
The sideshow starts October 13, when a "bone stock" Toyota Tundra tows the space shuttle Endeavor through the streets of LA to the California Science Center. Will the shuttle be festooned in "protective" blankets with Coca Cola logos? Tune in and find out who's the highest bidder!

http://www.toyota.com/tundraendeavour Toyota's painfully slow-loading website

Comments

  • jdoleckijdolecki Posts: 726
    edited 2012-09-27 10:33
    That's sad should of been a Ford or a Chevy.

    Not that I don't like Toyota. It just dosent seem right! American automakers should of never let this happen.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-09-27 12:30
    It should have been a fleet of quadrovers. If a quadrover could pull a Totota, they should be able to pull the Shuttle. Made in USA :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1GK00oe170

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-09-27 16:20
    NASA Should sell naming rights to the space missions! Sad but it beats going unfunded!
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2012-09-27 19:57
    Living right near Detroit I find that disturbing and somewhat insulting. They should really have a GMC, Chevrolet, FORD, Dodge, or even a Hummer pulling the shuttle. The only thing going for it is that the Toyota pickup is supposedly assembled in Texas. I guess with the shuttle connected they won't have to worry as much about the truck taking off and not being able to stop like some of their cars did.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-09-28 00:10
    If they were not going to use an all Made in America auto, they should have gone with something more enlightened --- like a Tata Nano.

    The next thing you might see is NASA as a brand name for some Asian running shoes. Gawd the world changes too quickly.
  • Jen J.Jen J. Posts: 649
    edited 2012-09-28 08:53
    Actually, Toyota Tundras are manufactured in a plant in San Antonio, Texas. So it is made in America.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Tundra

    Cheers, Jen J.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-09-29 02:49
    There are those that would argue that it is 'The Republic of Texas', especially in San Antonio.

    But we all know that Made in America is a rather dubious claim in the automotive industry as nothing is 100% made in the USA. It is assembled in America with parts from all over.

    I suspect that the Tata Nano may be closer to 100% made in India. But the 36 or so horsepower wouldn't pull a space shuttle. I am sure that the British would be upset if they had a Rover pulling something as symbolic. After all, Rovers are now an India company.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-09-29 10:11
    I am sure that the British would be upset if they had a Rover pulling something as symbolic. After all, Rovers are now an India company.
    It would probably have been a miracle if it moved as they had a tendency to keep breaking down :lol:
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-10-15 15:24
    Turns out the Ter-yota only pulled the shuttle for the last 400 meters, over the 405 freeway. I think that's a change over what they first announced. The back story may be worth digging up. Everyone is chanting "USA" in the video below. :) There's a payload disclaimer 33 seconds into the video. And a huge "Born in America" graphic on the truck's front bumper, 13 seconds in.

    From http://news.discovery.com/space/toyota-tundra-to-tow-shuttle-endeavour-121013.html :
    During the final 400 meters of its trek, Endeavour's computerized Over Land Transporter (that was used to carry the shuttle for the majority of its journey from LAX) will be disengaged and a 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax pickup truck will be used to haul the shuttle, ensuring Endeavour arrives at its retirement home in style.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-10-15 16:01
    Watching part of the journey through LA on the news I was watching how close the wings of the shuttle were getting to buildings and lamposts, bit worrying with all the crowds there but glad it went smoothly.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-10-15 16:39
    It was quite the party atmosphere. Attached is my buddy's pic, "eating the space shuttle", which was just as popular a pose as tourists "holding up" the leaning tower of Pisa.
    960 x 720 - 60K
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2012-10-15 18:03
    erco wrote: »
    Turns out the Ter-yota only pulled the shuttle for the last 400 meters, over the 405 freeway. I think that's a change over what they first announced. The back story may be worth digging up.

    So the Toyota pulled it downhill?

    attachment.php?attachmentid=96282&d=1350349430
    800 x 647 - 108K
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2012-10-15 18:53
    W9GFO wrote: »
    So the Toyota pulled it downhill?

    Could be a reason it's called a "Toy"ota...

    C.W.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-10-17 08:55
    AMAZING time lapse video of the Endeavor's journey, shoehorning through the streets and obstacles of LA. It's clear that for much of its journey, it had to be nerfed sideways to clear houses and trees, and that it wasn't a simple job for a truck pulling this thing on an ordinary trailer.

    http://framework.latimes.com/2012/10/15/time-lapse-video-space-shuttle-endeavours-trek-across-l-a/
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-10-17 09:33
    How long before that Toyota is on ebay? :)
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2012-10-17 12:10
    Did the Toyota really do anything???? Seems like a big scam to me. From the video it looks like the trailers moved the shuttle all by itself. With that setup they could have pulled it on a bicycle.

    A Quad-Rover would have been much better.
  • CircuitsoftCircuitsoft Posts: 1,166
    edited 2012-10-17 17:09
    Here is an example of a consumer-ready production vehicle actually doing something. Being that 747s have carried the space shuttle, I find this pretty impressive.
Sign In or Register to comment.