A rotary vane motor adapted to operate at low rpm with a source of cryogenic pressurized gas. The rotary vane motor includes a housing having a cylindrical opening connected to a primary inlet assembly and an outlet assembly, a first and second end plate attached at opposite sides of the cylindrical opening, a rotor having a plurality of radially oriented, a plurality of vanes movable within the slots and a shaft for rotatably mounting the rotor in an eccentric position within the cylindrical opening. The first end plate includes a slot positioned for fluid communication with at least one of the rotor slots so as to direct pressurized fluid from a secondary inlet assembly. In the preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of vanes includes grooves for facilitating release of trapped fluid. During use, pressurized gas from the secondary inlet assembly forces the vanes radially outward relative to the rotor slots upon communication with first end plate slot such that any friction-causing problems are overcome.