In a groundbreaking development, China has unveiled the world’s most powerful centrifuge known as CHIEF (Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary ENT Facility) in the city of Hangzhou. The project, initiated in 2018 with approval from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, saw construction begin in 2020 with a total investment reaching approximately 2 billion yuan (276.5 million US dollars).
At the core of this cutting-edge facility lies a massive rotating device that generates a centrifugal force significantly higher than Earth’s natural gravity. This state, known as hypergravitation, enables researchers to observe processes that would otherwise take tens of thousands of years in nature. Professor Chen Yunmin from the University of Zhejian, who spearheaded the project, highlighted the capability of the installation in simulating phenomena like pollutant movement in soil or long-term strain on dams within a matter of hours.
CHIEF boasts a centrifugal capacity of 1900 G-T (gravity tons) with a maximum load of 32 tons, surpassing the capabilities of its closest competitor – the U.S. Army Engineering Corps centrifuges, which reach up to 1200 G-T.
On a global scale, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plays a pivotal role in various scientific endeavors related to aerospace, planetary exploration, and space technology. From iconic missions like Apollo that landed humans on the moon to the Voyager spacecraft that explored outer planets, NASA continues to expand humanity’s understanding of the universe. Collaborating with space agencies such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), NASA aims to leverage knowledge for the betterment of humankind.