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In 1966, the high capacity centrifuge at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was installed to test space-bound instruments and equipment. More recently, it tested the Global Precipitation Measurement mission’s Core Observatory (launched February 2014) and the instrument module structure of the James Webb Space Telescope. ‪

The centrifuge simulates the apparent increase of gravity’s pull during a launch. For astronauts, that’s normally a few minutes at two or three times the force of Earth’s gravity, “g.” Equipment carried in space shuttle cargo bays usually saw between 6 and 7 g. The most intense roller coasters in the world top out at about 5 g, and then only for brief moments. Don't get excited, though: no humans are allowed on Goddard's centrifuge.

The 120-foot-diameter centrifuge can accelerate a 2.5-ton payload up to 30 g, well beyond the force experienced in a launch. Two 1,250-horsepower electric motors produce this force. They require so much energy that Goddard gives advance notice to the power company before spinning up the centrifuge!

This photo shows inspection of the installation process.