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Engine Model: Vinci. Designer: Snecma, Ottobrunn. Application: Upper Stages. Propellants: Lox/LH2. Thrust(vac): 180.000 kN (40,460 lbf). Isp: 467 sec. Mass Engine: 280 kg (610 lb). Diameter: 2.15 m (7.05 ft). Length: 4.20 m (13.70 ft). Chambers: 1. Chamber Pressure: 61.00 bar. Country: France/Germany. Status: In development. First Flight: 2010.

Vinci was an advanced expander cycle cryogenic propellant rocket engine with the capability of five in-space restarts. On 20 May 2005, the Vinci engine performed its first hot-fire test at Lampoldshausen's P4.1 test stand. Use of Vinci in the ESC-B upper stage in place of the HM-7B engine and the ESC-A (Etage Superieur Cryotechnique A) would increase the GTO payload performance of Ariane 5 to 12 tonnes. The Ottobrunn Space Propulsion Centre was responsible for the development of the Vinci Thrust Chamber under contract to Snecma. Ottobrunn developed Vinci's regeneratively cooled combustion chamber; coaxial propellant mixing injectors; dump cooled nozzle extension; gimbal joints; and the LOX and LH2 propellant shut-off valves. Engine length with the deployable nozzle extension retracted was 2.3 m. However completion of development of the ESC-B upper stage, and the Vinci engine, were put on indefinite hold in late 2005. First flight of the Vinci and ESC-B was postponed until sometime after 2010.



Vinci used on Rocket Stages


Vinci used on Spacecraft


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