Massive Truck Carrying Aerospace Equipment Takes One Year To Travel 1700km: Here’s Why!

A massive truck carrying a giant machine called an aerospace autoclave, took an entire year to travel from Maharashtra to VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) in Kerala. The massive 74-wheeled truck reportedly left Nashik in July 2019, passed through 4 other states covering a total of 1,700km and is finally set to reach its destination soon; almost a year after it left.

Maharashtra To Kerala On-Road Travel: 74-Wheeled Truck Takes One Year To Complete Journey Between Nashik & Vikram Sarabhai Space Station Averaging 5km Per Day

The massive truck is said to average just 5 kilometres every day. The massive truck blocks the entire road, with no place for any other vehicles to pass and requires a crew of 32 members to control its movement.

As seen in the video, the aerospace autoclave weighs in at 70-tonnes and has a height and width of 7.5-metres and 6.65-metres, respectively. The massive machine, manufactured in Nashik, makes various other equipment used in India's space research projects.

Maharashtra To Kerala On-Road Travel: 74-Wheeled Truck Takes One Year To Complete Journey Between Nashik & Vikram Sarabhai Space Station Averaging 5km Per Day

During the transfer of the machine, all vehicular activity around the truck had to be stopped, to ensure the safety of other motorists. Police also provided a pilot car to ensure the safe movement of the truck, while passing through cities.

Maharashtra To Kerala On-Road Travel: 74-Wheeled Truck Takes One Year To Complete Journey Between Nashik & Vikram Sarabhai Space Station Averaging 5km Per Day

Officials also had to cut down trees, remove electric lines to ensure smooth movement of the truck. The 32-member crew would also plan their day ahead and inform concerned authorities of their arrival, especially before entering towns or cities.

Maharashtra To Kerala On-Road Travel: 74-Wheeled Truck Takes One Year To Complete Journey Between Nashik & Vikram Sarabhai Space Station Averaging 5km Per Day

After almost a year of travel, the truck is finally said to have entered the state of Kerala earlier this month. It is now scheduled to reach its final destination of VSSC in Vattiyoorkavu, Kerala by the end of the month.

Maharashtra To Kerala On-Road Travel: 74-Wheeled Truck Takes One Year To Complete Journey Between Nashik & Vikram Sarabhai Space Station Averaging 5km Per Day

Talking about the truck itself, as seen from the video the truck itself is a Volvo and is part of the brand's FM series. While we cannot determine the exact model, the Volvo FM series are massively capable trucks with huge payload carrying capacity, with gigantic power and torque figures.

Maharashtra To Kerala On-Road Travel: 74-Wheeled Truck Takes One Year To Complete Journey Between Nashik & Vikram Sarabhai Space Station Averaging 5km Per Day

To give an idea, the base model in the Volvo FM series range uses a six-cylinder 10,800cc diesel engine producing 330bhp and a massive 1600Nm of torque. While the top-spec model range has a larger displacement of 12,800cc and produces a maximum of 500bhp and 2500Nm of peak torque. All the engines are further mated to a 12-speed automatic transmission.

Maharashtra To Kerala On-Road Travel: 74-Wheeled Truck Takes One Year To Complete Journey Between Nashik & Vikram Sarabhai Space Station Averaging 5km Per Day

Thoughts About A Massive Truck Taking One Year To Travel 1700km

The journey between Maharashtra and Kerala which usually takes trucks a week to complete has taken a year. This itself showcases the sheer scale of the operation of transporting the aerospace autoclave between two states.

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Read more on: #off beat
Article Published On: Saturday, July 18, 2020, 11:09 [IST]
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