Lilly Etzenbach

Lilly Etzenbach is a graduate student in aeronautics and astronautics, advancing the design of next-generation rocket engines for reusable launch systems. Her research focuses on liquid propellant rocket engines, modeling trade-offs among performance, reusability, complexity, and cost. As a MathWorks Fellow, Lilly will use a modular simulation architecture built in MATLAB, incorporating the Aerospace Toolbox, Simscape, and SimEvents, to evaluate propulsion system designs under steady-state and transient conditions. She will also apply MATLAB’s Partial Differential Equation Toolbox to model degradation in cooling channels and assess health monitoring strategies using embedded thermocouples and fiber-optic sensors. By capturing relationships among design parameters, refurbishment needs, and operational lifespan, Lilly’s work could guide more efficient design of reusable systems and instrumentation. It could also help lower the cost of access to space while increasing system reliability and sustainability, enabling broader participation in the space economy.