A liquid propellant rocket engine with a propulsion chamber shutter, the rocket engine comprises a combustion chamber, a propellant injector device placed at an upstream first end of the combustion chamber, a nozzle throat disposed at a downstream second end of the combustion chamber remote from the upstream first end, and a diverging portion disposed downstream from the nozzle throat. A selective shutter device for the nozzle throat comprises an axially-symmetrical shutter member placed downstream from the nozzle throat, and axial rod for controlling the shutter member, a first short centering member for the control rod situated at the upstream first end of the combustion chamber level with the propellant injector device, a second short centering member for the control rod situated in the combustion chamber in the vicinity of the nozzle throat and upstream therefrom, and a system for returning the control rod of the selective shutter device for the nozzle throat to the closed position.