{
  "id": "arianegroup-vinci",
  "title": "Vinci engine",
  "maker": "ArianeGroup",
  "maker_type": "Commercial",
  "kind": "mission",
  "category": "engines",
  "page": "https://spacemushroom.com/space-products/arianegroup-vinci/",
  "website": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/The_engines_of_Ariane_6",
  "summary": "Restartable expander-cycle LOX/LH2 engine for the Ariane 6 upper stage; a 2017 paper by the nozzle team states a fixed two-cone nozzle extension in Carbon/Carbon-Silicon Carbide (aft) and Carbon/Carbon (forward). Other parts have no published material.",
  "application": "Vinci is the engine of the Ariane 6 upper stage. Because it can be re-ignited in flight, one launch can place several payloads into different orbits and then deorbit the stage. Its radiatively cooled carbon-composite nozzle extension is the part with a published material.",
  "story": null,
  "specifications": [
    {
      "label": "Vacuum thrust",
      "value": "180 kN",
      "source_url": "https://directory.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/ariane6",
      "quote": "The Vinci Engine provides a vacuum thrust of 180 kN"
    },
    {
      "label": "Thrust operating points",
      "value": "180 kN or 130 kN",
      "source_url": "https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2023-873.pdf",
      "quote": "One Main Engine (VINCI) with two operating point 180kN or 130kN thrust."
    },
    {
      "label": "Specific impulse (vacuum)",
      "value": "457.2 s",
      "source_url": "https://directory.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/ariane6",
      "quote": "with specific impulse of 457.2 s"
    },
    {
      "label": "Chamber pressure",
      "value": "60 bar",
      "source_url": "https://directory.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/ariane6",
      "quote": "combustion pressure of 60 bar"
    },
    {
      "label": "Mixture ratio (oxidizer to fuel)",
      "value": "6:1",
      "source_url": "https://directory.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/ariane6",
      "quote": "it has a mixing ratio of 6:1"
    },
    {
      "label": "Cycle",
      "value": "Expander, no gas generator",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/",
      "quote": "The Vinci engine concept utilizes the thermodynamic expander cycle without a gas generator"
    },
    {
      "label": "Propellants",
      "value": "Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen",
      "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/space/propulsion",
      "quote": "an expander-cycle engine running on liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen"
    },
    {
      "label": "Ignitions per flight",
      "value": "Up to four",
      "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/The_engines_of_Ariane_6",
      "quote": "It can ignite up to four times in a single Ariane 6 flight"
    },
    {
      "label": "Maximum burn time in flight",
      "value": "900 s",
      "source_url": "https://www.ariane.group/en/news/ariane-6-vinci-engine-successful-qualification-tests/",
      "quote": "with a maximum burn time of 900 seconds in flight"
    },
    {
      "label": "Hydrogen pump pressure",
      "value": "Up to more than 300 bar",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/",
      "quote": "The turbopumps generate up to more than 300 bar pressure for the hydrogen."
    },
    {
      "label": "Nozzle extension height and inlet diameter",
      "value": "1872 mm high, 655 mm inlet diameter",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/",
      "quote": "It is 1872 mm high with an inlet diameter of 655 mm"
    },
    {
      "label": "Nozzle extension exit diameter",
      "value": "1820 mm",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/",
      "quote": "an exit diameter of 1820 mm"
    },
    {
      "label": "Peak external temperature reached in nozzle extension tests",
      "value": "About 1710 K",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/",
      "quote": "The maximum external temperature reached was approximately 1710K"
    },
    {
      "label": "Qualification campaign",
      "value": "148 tests, 52,156 s of running",
      "source_url": "https://directory.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/ariane6",
      "quote": "148 tests in which the Vinci engine ran for 52,156 seconds"
    },
    {
      "label": "Engines per vehicle",
      "value": "One, on the Ariane 6 upper stage",
      "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_what_s_it_made_of",
      "quote": "powered by the all-new restartable Vinci engine"
    },
    {
      "label": "Planned assembly and test rate (2025 plan)",
      "value": "Up to twelve engines a year at Lampoldshausen",
      "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/news/arianegroup-prepares-for-vinci-engine-integration-and-acceptance-testing-at-the-lampoldshausen-site-in-germany/",
      "quote": "up to twelve Vinci engines could be assembled and tested each year in Lampoldshausen"
    },
    {
      "label": "First flight",
      "value": "Ariane 6 maiden launch, 9 July 2024",
      "source_url": "https://directory.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/ariane6",
      "quote": "was successfully launched from the French Guiana Spaceport on July 9, 2024"
    }
  ],
  "features": [
    {
      "text": "Restartable, so one upper stage can place several payloads in different orbits",
      "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/space/propulsion",
      "quote": "enabling several payloads to be placed in different target orbits"
    },
    {
      "text": "Electric igniter allows the chamber to be re-ignited",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/",
      "quote": "the chamber is re-ignitable by help of an electric igniter"
    },
    {
      "text": "Chamber design is based on the HM7-B and Vulcain thrust chambers",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/",
      "quote": "The chamber is designed based upon the highly successful HM7-B and Vulcain thrust chambers"
    },
    {
      "text": "Thrust and mixture ratio are regulated from injection-head measurements",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/",
      "quote": "The engine will use measurements at the injection head to precisely regulate the thrust and mixture ratio"
    },
    {
      "text": "Hydrogen cools the combustion chamber through a regenerative circuit",
      "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/space/propulsion",
      "quote": "an optimised regenerative cooling circuit for the combustion chamber"
    },
    {
      "text": "Can fire a last time to deorbit the upper stage",
      "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/space/propulsion",
      "quote": "can fire one last time to deorbit the upper stage in order to minimise space debris"
    },
    {
      "text": "The Ariane 6 nozzle extension is no longer deployable in flight",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/",
      "quote": "is no longer deployable in flight"
    },
    {
      "text": "The Ariane 6 nozzle extension has two cones instead of the three of the A5ME design",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/",
      "quote": "has only 2 cones (instead of 3)"
    },
    {
      "text": "Development began for the Ariane 5 ME upper stage and was redirected to Ariane 6",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-19/C4/1/52605/",
      "quote": "The Vinci engine development was initially intended for the application to the A5ME upper stage."
    },
    {
      "text": "An Auxiliary Propulsion Unit pressurises the upper stage tanks",
      "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/space/propulsion",
      "quote": "pressurises the upper stage fuel tanks and provides thrust for the satellites to be separated in clusters"
    },
    {
      "text": "Gaseous hydrogen tapped off the engine pressurises the liquid hydrogen tank",
      "source_url": "https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2023-873.pdf",
      "quote": "It provides also GH2 (tap off) for LH2 Tank pressurization"
    }
  ],
  "parts": [
    {
      "assembly": "Thrust chamber and injector",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Combustion chamber",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "ArianeGroup, Ottobrunn",
          "quote": "the combustion chambers are developed and built in Ottobrunn, near Munich",
          "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/news/arianegroup-prepares-for-vinci-engine-integration-and-acceptance-testing-at-the-lampoldshausen-site-in-germany/",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        },
        {
          "part": "Chamber regenerative cooling circuit",
          "material": null,
          "form": "regenerative circuit",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "an optimised regenerative cooling circuit for the combustion chamber",
          "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/space/propulsion",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        },
        {
          "part": "Injection head",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The engine will use measurements at the injection head to precisely regulate the thrust and mixture ratio",
          "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        },
        {
          "part": "Electric igniter",
          "material": null,
          "form": "electric igniter",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "the chamber is re-ignitable by help of an electric igniter",
          "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Nozzle extension",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Nozzle extension, forward cone",
          "material": "Carbon/Carbon with an oxidation protection",
          "form": "radiative thermo-structural cone",
          "finish": "oxidation protection (type not stated)",
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "Le Haillan site, France",
          "quote": "the aft cone in Carbon/Carbon-Silicon Carbide and the forward cone in Carbon/Carbon with an oxidation protection",
          "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "carbon-carbon"
        },
        {
          "part": "Nozzle extension, aft cone",
          "material": "Carbon/Carbon-Silicon Carbide",
          "form": "radiative thermo-structural cone",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "Le Haillan site, France",
          "quote": "the aft cone in Carbon/Carbon-Silicon Carbide and the forward cone in Carbon/Carbon with an oxidation protection",
          "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "carbon-carbon-silicon-carbide"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Turbopumps",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Liquid hydrogen turbopump",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "Vernon, France (2015 plan)",
          "quote": "for the hydrogen turbopump (Vernon, France)",
          "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-15/C4/1/28800/",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        },
        {
          "part": "Liquid oxygen turbopump",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "Avio",
          "quote": "Avio provides the liquid oxygen turbopumps for the Vinci and Vulcain 2.1 engines for Ariane 6.",
          "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_made_in_Italy",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        },
        {
          "part": "Liquid oxygen turbopump Dynamic Seal Package",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "Avio",
          "quote": "including a new, more compact type of Dynamic Seal Package",
          "source_url": "https://avio.com/cryogenic-turbopumps",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        },
        {
          "part": "Turbopump turbines",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "GKN Aerospace",
          "quote": "These turbine assemblies will be manufactured at GKN Aerospace",
          "source_url": "https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/knowledge/industry-member-news/gkn-aerospace-wins-ariane-6-rocket-engine-sub-systems-contracts",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Valves and regulators",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Valves and pressure regulators",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "Safran, Turin",
          "quote": "In Turin, Italy, the former Microtecnica site now owned by Safran produces valves and pressure regulators",
          "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_made_in_Italy",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Tank pressurisation interface",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Gaseous hydrogen tap-off for LH2 tank pressurization",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "It provides also GH2 (tap off) for LH2 Tank pressurization",
          "source_url": "https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2023-873.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "materials": [
    {
      "id": "carbon-carbon",
      "name": "Carbon/Carbon with an oxidation protection",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "carbon-carbon-silicon-carbide",
      "name": "Carbon/Carbon-Silicon Carbide",
      "material_page": null
    }
  ],
  "standards": [],
  "relations": [
    {
      "type": "part_of",
      "target": "Ariane 6",
      "target_slug": "arianespace-ariane-6",
      "note": "upper-stage engine, one per stage",
      "quote": "powered by the all-new restartable Vinci engine",
      "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_what_s_it_made_of"
    },
    {
      "type": "supplied_by",
      "target": "ArianeGroup",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "developer of the engine, with European partners",
      "quote": "It has been developed by ArianeGroup in cooperation with European partners",
      "source_url": "https://ariane.group/en/space/propulsion"
    },
    {
      "type": "supplied_by",
      "target": "ArianeGroup, Le Haillan site (formerly Airbus Safran Launchers)",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "nozzle extension cones",
      "quote": "designed and manufactured by Airbus Safran Launchers on Le Haillan site in France",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-17/C4/1/37293/"
    },
    {
      "type": "supplied_by",
      "target": "Avio",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "liquid oxygen turbopump",
      "quote": "Avio provides the liquid oxygen turbopumps for the Vinci and Vulcain 2.1 engines for Ariane 6.",
      "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_made_in_Italy"
    },
    {
      "type": "supplied_by",
      "target": "ArianeGroup France (Vernon)",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "liquid oxygen turbopump responsibility moving here from Avio",
      "quote": "ESA Member States decided to transfer responsibility for the liquid oxygen turbopumps from Avio to ArianeGroup France.",
      "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_made_in_Italy"
    },
    {
      "type": "supplied_by",
      "target": "GKN Aerospace",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "turbine assemblies for the turbopumps",
      "quote": "These turbine assemblies will be manufactured at GKN Aerospace",
      "source_url": "https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/knowledge/industry-member-news/gkn-aerospace-wins-ariane-6-rocket-engine-sub-systems-contracts"
    },
    {
      "type": "supplied_by",
      "target": "Safran (Turin site, former Microtecnica)",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "valves and pressure regulators",
      "quote": "In Turin, Italy, the former Microtecnica site now owned by Safran produces valves and pressure regulators",
      "source_url": "https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_made_in_Italy"
    },
    {
      "type": "heritage_of",
      "target": "HM7-B engine",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "thrust chamber design basis",
      "quote": "The chamber is designed based upon the highly successful HM7-B and Vulcain thrust chambers",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/"
    },
    {
      "type": "heritage_of",
      "target": "Vulcain engine",
      "target_slug": null,
      "note": "thrust chamber design basis",
      "quote": "The chamber is designed based upon the highly successful HM7-B and Vulcain thrust chambers",
      "source_url": "https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/C4/1/45921/"
    }
  ],
  "not_published": "No liner, jacket, injector, igniter, turbopump rotor, bearing, seal, valve or duct materials. No grades for the carbon fibres, matrices or the oxidation protection. No standards.",
  "depth": "materials-only",
  "photos": [],
  "context": {
    "size": [],
    "mass": [],
    "orbit": []
  },
  "licence": "Product data CC BY 4.0, cite Space Mushroom. Photos keep their own licences, given per photo.",
  "mcp": "https://spacemushroom.com/mcp"
}