China has launched the world’s largest hypergravity centrifuge, marking a breakthrough in scientific infrastructure with potential applications ranging from resource extraction to disaster prevention. The CHIEF1300 machine, unveiled in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, can simulate gravitational forces 300 times stronger than Earth’s while accommodating 20-ton loads—a global first in both scale and capacity.
Developed by Zhejiang University as part of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF), the centrifuge will enable cutting-edge research in deep-sea exploration, underground waste management, and advanced materials synthesis. Three operational centrifuges and 18 supporting devices form the facility’s core, with two additional high-capacity models under construction.
To contextualize its power: while roller-coaster riders experience 2G forces and astronauts endure 5G during liftoff, CHIEF’s systems can sustain accelerations up to 1,500G. Researchers emphasize its role in addressing critical challenges, including earthquake-resistant infrastructure and sustainable mineral extraction.
This advancement positions China at the forefront of hypergravity research, offering new tools for global scientific collaboration and technological innovation.
