Vinci (rocket engine)

The Vinci rocket engine intended to power the planned new ESC- B of the Ariane 5 ECB, whose development does not currently rests. If the development is resumed, to replace the previously used ESC-A upper stage with the HM -7B engine ESC -B upper stage.

As previously first cryogenic upper stage engine ESA Vinci is wiederzündbar and works in the main stream method. Here, a portion of the vaporized in the cooling system fuel is diverted, used as the driving medium for the fuel feed pumps and finally headed back into the combustion chamber ( Expander Cycle Engine).

The Vinci engine has a long exhaust nozzle to achieve a high expansion ratio of the shear beam and thus a high specific impulse. The exhaust nozzle consists of two nested parts and drives up the ignition after the separation of the first stage. Thus, the length and therefore the weight of the required intermediates adapter is reduced.

Specifications

Development

Due to the unsuccessful maiden flight of the Ariane 5 ECA and the subsequent costs to develop the ESC -B rests officially since early 2003. Nevertheless, the development of the Vinci engine has not been abandoned. On 20 May 2005, a Vinci engine Lampoldshausen was ignited for a second for the first time. On July 26, 2005, we then for the first time a test under full power. The test lasted 60 seconds, and was also the hitherto longest test of the Vinci engine. Total to November 2005 nine test runs were performed. In November 2005 a second prototype was inaugurated and tested.

The end of 2006 it was announced that ESA has signed a contract with Snecma in the wake of the Future Launcher Preparatory Program ( FLPP ), who has backed the development of Vinci to the ESA Ministerial Conference in November 2008. In the meantime, were the first 350 seconds of flight Vinci, including the start of the engine, successfully tested. This corresponds to about half of the planned flight duration. On 1 August 2007 Vinci was successfully under space conditions, ie in vacuum, re-ignited. The first heat -up period was 40 seconds after a waiting period of another 148 seconds took place then the second ignition with a hot running time of the engine by 80 seconds. At the Ministerial Council meeting of ESA in 2008 it was decided that the Vinci engine is further developed in FLPP program to be able to make a construction decision on the equipped with ESC -B upper stage him to 2011. The first flight of the new stage could then be 2015/2016.