Astronaut Travels The Universe Again

My granddaughter likes to go to sleep with a ‘universe, nebula and stars’ projected onto the ceiling. It is a topic for bedtime chats about the amazing universe and all it holds.
She came to me the other day saying that her astronaut was not working properly and she was quite upset and disappointed that her favourite astronaut had let her down. Naturally, this became my main priority, so I got to work.
As I tried to power it up, I noticed that it would occasionally not turn on. I traced this to a faulty USB cable and replaced it with a spare.
With ‘is it fixed yet’ in the background, I hoped that it was just the faulty cable.
Fault number 1…….
Once I disassembled the astronaut, I examined the circuit boards, etc to get a proper understanding of its operation.
It looks like it is broken into 3 separate sections:
- A little side LED to create the ‘stars’.
- A small electric motor to rotate the ‘nebula’.
- A 3-LED module to provide changing colours that fade from one to the other.
So, her second complaint was that the red in the nebula was not working.
After examining the circuit board for any obvious signs of damage, I turned my attention to the LED module itself.
It appears that power (around 3 volts) is constantly supplied to the positive ‘rail’.
The ground is then switched, timed to give the impression of the nebula fading in and out. The light comes through the mask of the helmet.
I was able to power each individual LED – Blue, Green & Red with 3 volts from my power supply. The worked fine – until I flicked the module with my finger.
The red obviously had an intermittent break in the wiring to the LED.
The wiring is very fine and although it is in a module, they can be broken, as in this case. So, it was just a matter of soldering in a new module – right?
The back of the module base was aluminium, which was obviously being used as a heat sink. Also, another big aluminium plate held the module board in place. It seems that these little LEDs must produce quite a bit of heat.
Unfortunately, it appears that the designers almost riveted the back of the LED module to the board, making it impossible to remove easily.
I ended up unsoldering the legs & then having to break the module away from the board!
This did not make for any easy removal!
Once the LED module was removed, there as the issue of the base that was rivetted to the board. I used a Dremel rotary tool to remove the remains of the rivet, creating a smooth base for the new module to sit on. Next, thermal compound was added to the base to try and help with heat transfer.
I could now solder the module in place.
I now tested the individual LEDs for operation. They all shone brightly without any intermittent failure. Of course, we had to test them for the full effect.
You have a special sense of satisfaction when you give back a repaired toy to you grandchildren. But, after a quick ‘thank-you’ they get back to their play and you are only really needed next time when they cry out that another of their toys needs repair. Not true – being a grandparent is really special all the time.
Sorry, no video this time guys!
This article was prepared for you by Mark Rabone from Australia.
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Note: You can check out his previous repair article on Blown Up Projecta Battery Charger Repaired



Albert van Bemmelen
February 2, 2025 at 6:19 pm
No video, no problem Mark! It is the successful repair that counts!
Mark
February 2, 2025 at 7:43 pm
Thanks Albert!
Parasuraman S
February 2, 2025 at 6:39 pm
Very touching and compassionate repair work! You are really lucky to be able to serve the kids this way and of-course, they too are to get a grandpa like this! Many thanks for sharing, which is also very valuable!
Francisco Maciel
February 3, 2025 at 2:21 am
Next time, when they grow up, ask them to support you while fixing it. So they can immerse in the beauty of system analysis and trouble shooting thinking. And then you will be grateful when they say: we fixed !
I get into electronics thanks to an uncle. For me, he was the MASTER or electronics. He is a Dermatologist, me... A Mechanical and Electrical Engineer and electronics lover.
He teach me once he was getting into electronics world. And I thank him for this due now is part of my job.
Mark
February 3, 2025 at 10:38 am
Hey Francisco,
My 8 year old granddaughter has an interest in electronics which I am trying to encourage. It's very rewarding to see them progress in their skills from such an early age.
corriette
February 2, 2025 at 7:38 pm
There is great satisfaction when both parties are satisfied. Even the little ones know the joy when a dad or grand does that. it says i real like what i do and i love my grand children even more. good job sir.
Mark
February 2, 2025 at 8:50 pm
Yes Corriette,
It is very satisfying to see a smile on their face.
My grand-daughter is interested in electronics. She regularly tests items and their batteries for correct voltage and replaces the faulty ones.
Tonight I gave her a brand new multi-meter and her little eyes lit up and she giggled. I'm hoping that this might encourage her to keep going with her interest. She is 8 years old.
Mark
February 2, 2025 at 7:44 pm
Yes Parasuraman,
With Grandkids, there are always repairs to do
Waleed Rishmawi
February 2, 2025 at 8:15 pm
It is an amazing feeling when we help out a family member.. good job on the repair, I am glad it worked out. Have a blessed day
Mark
February 2, 2025 at 8:51 pm
Thanks Waleed
Henrique J. G. Ulbrich
February 2, 2025 at 10:25 pm
Never mind, Mark. The video is not really important, mainly in this special case. What is quite important is the double satisfaction: from the grandkid getting his toy back working well and from the grandfather seeing a child's happiness.
Yogesh Panchal
February 3, 2025 at 12:35 am
Good Fix,Mark
Mark
February 3, 2025 at 10:39 am
Thanks Yogesh!
Mark J
February 3, 2025 at 1:18 am
Good job on the repair.
Mark
February 3, 2025 at 10:40 am
Thank you Mark
Mark
February 3, 2025 at 5:52 am
Thanks Henrique,
It seems there might be a few grandparent amongst us! It is a good feeling to see their smiling faces.
moshe jacobson
February 11, 2025 at 8:10 am
hi mark...that was quite an amazing repair you performed on the LED!
i wonder whether its the same LED thats used in the 'underwater' (tho not waterproof) lights sold on aliexpress.