China has officially launched the world’s most powerful centrifuge, capable of generating forces up to 300 times Earth’s gravity (300G) while carrying loads as heavy as 22 tons. The machine, called CHIEF1300, marks a milestone in hypergravity research and is part of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
Developed by Zhejiang University, CHIEF is designed as a cutting-edge hub for scientific breakthroughs in fields ranging from deep-sea and deep-Earth resource extraction to earthquake modeling, tsunami impact studies, underground waste storage, and advanced material design. The facility will eventually house three centrifuges, 18 in-flight devices, and six experimental cabins, with more centrifuges under construction to extend its capacity.
Hypergravity, the experience of forces much stronger than Earth’s gravity is central to CHIEF’s mission. For comparison, astronauts feel about 5G during rocket launches, while CHIEF is capable of sustaining accelerations up to 1,500G, far beyond human tolerance.
“In a hypergravity field, researchers can simulate real-world hydrogeological catastrophes, geological evolution and extreme environments in bench-top scale models within a reasonable timeframe,” explained Chen Yunmin, CHIEF’s chief scientist. At 100G, for example, a 3-foot model can represent a 328-foot structure, while a 100-year contaminant spread can be studied in just 3.65 days.
At the heart of CHIEF1300 is a 21-foot rotating arm housed in a vast underground chamber. The machine incorporates vacuum systems and wall-cooling setups to counteract heat and air resistance. “CHIEF1300 was placed below ground level, and was equipped with vacuum and wall-cooling setups to mitigate the adverse influences of air resistance and machine heating,” said Ling Daosheng, the facility’s chief engineer.
Early experiments have already showcased the centrifuge’s value. Scientists have used it to test the seismic safety of hydropower dam foundations, simulate the impact of tsunamis and large waves on seabeds, and recreate the pressure conditions of deep-sea methane hydrate extraction. In another study, hypergravity conditions enabled the creation of metal alloys with fewer defects and enhanced strength, a development with promising applications in aerospace and advanced engineering.
Looking ahead, CHIEF is being positioned as a global research hub. “The facility will operate as an open, shared hub for frontier science, and I look forward to teaming up with the world’s top research groups to accelerate discovery and spark innovation,” Chen emphasized.
