Bringing Space to a Printer Near You: An Duong's Mission to Inspire Young Minds
An Duong is a chartered aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, and STEM advocate dedicated to helping the next generation explore space and engineering hands-on.
Space captures the imagination of countless children, who often dream of rockets, astronauts, and distant planets. For An Duong, that fascination never faded.
In 2019, he founded Morethan3D Ltd. (a.k.a. >3D), through which he displays and sells educational space-related 3D models.
“My vision for Morethan3D is to utilize 3D printing technologies to inspire and develop creativity in children, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEAM fields.” – An Duong, Founder of >3D and Innovation Manager at Rolls Royce
From Cardboard Models to 3D Printed Jet Engines
An’s love for building started early, fascinated with airplanes, rockets, and helicopters. As a child, he built all sorts of models. First from cardboard, and later digitally using CAD software. That passion led him to study manufacturing and aerospace, eventually securing a role at Rolls-Royce as an Innovation Manager.
On top of his fulfilling career, one of his greatest satisfactions comes from teaching kids about engineering. Initially volunteering at STEAM events, he noticed that lectures and slideshows weren't enough; kids needed something they could hold, build, and experiment with.
That’s when he turned to 3D printing, designing a model jet engine to explain how they work. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
An Duong and his 3D printed JET-XL model.
“This success led me to think, ‘Why not leverage 3D printing more in my STEAM events?’ Consequently, I designed many more models to inspire children about science,” he explains. “Today, my designs not only inspire children but also adults worldwide about engineering and space exploration.”
His most ambitious project to date is the JET-XL, a nearly 2-meter long, 100kg 3D printed jet engine model. It holds an unofficial title as the World’s Largest 3D Printed Jet Engine Model for STEM.
Alongside it, An has developed an impressive library of intricate 3D printed space models, including the Mars Perseverance rover, rocket engines, spaceships, and more.
Sending Kids to Space
One of An’s most memorable moments came from a young space enthusiast named Jack. At just five years old, Jack was obsessed with space, so An designed and gifted him a 3D printed model of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
Jack proudly brought it to school, showing it off to his friends and teachers.
But An didn’t stop there. He went the extra mile (or light year) and reached out to NASA astronaut Bob Hines, who was preparing for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
“I asked if he could take a small copy of the photo of Jack lifting the model with him to the ISS, so I could tell Jack that his photo had been in space,” he said.
Bob agreed, and not only did he bring Jack’s photo to space, he took a picture of it floating inside the ISS’s cupola, with Earth visible in the background.
An framed the photo and, on Jack’s 7th birthday, surprised him with it.
“Jack and his parents were blown away,” he recalls. “I am sure that whenever Jack looks at that photo, his passion for science and space will continue to grow. And he can proudly tell his friends that there's a photo of him in the ISS, waiting for him to come and retrieve it someday!”
Introducing Kids to 3D Printing
Through his work with Morethan3D and his STEAM outreach, An has seen firsthand how transformative 3D printing can be in education. His advice for educators looking to integrate it into their programs?
- Start Early. Young children can grasp 3D printing concepts earlier than most people think.
- Choose the Right Printer. Avoid printers that require excessive fine-tuning before students can use them.
- Make It Fun. Don’t rely on photos and slides, show students how 3D printers work.
- Be Patient. 3D printing has a learning curve, but there are great online communities ready to help.
Before long, kids can develop impressive technical skills if given the right tools. An has seen it firsthand during his STEAM activities, where young learners quickly grasp the basics of 3D printing and even surpass expectations.
Left: An Duong explaining jet engine mechanics during a STEAM session. Right: Students displaying their 3D printed balloon-powered cars, a STEAM project led by An.
“Don't wait until the kids are all grown up. 3D printing can be taught to children at a very young age,” he insists. “In fact, I've met many kids under 10 who probably know more about 3D printing than I do!”
Looking ahead, An wants to keep inspiring as many children as possible to study STEAM subjects, and perhaps start their own journey with 3D printing as well.
Through his models, educational programs, and personal passion, An continues to show just how powerful 3D printing can be, at all ages.
🚀 Check out An’s amazing space-themed 3D models at Morethan3D.com
