A few months back, I began conceptualizing the idea of a much smaller and cheaper alternative to STARLIGHT. I understand it can be intimidating spending so much on a product from a small business that may or may not succeed. Because of this as well as further interest in PCB design and simplifying complex problems, I began work on a STARLIGHT MINI. Four months later, and here we are. STARLIGHT MINI is nearly ready to be brought to market, and I’ve been working non-stop on completing this project.
STARLIGHT MINI – Simple in theory, complex in practice
STARLIGHT MINI should have been a simple job – downsize STARLIGHT a bit, re-route everything, remove some unnecessary components, re-configure the firmware, and boom. Unfortunately, I have a very bad habit of entering what many call “development hell”. The simple definition of development hell is the limbo that a project may be stuck in due to logistical or technical challenges. That’s been my main issue with STARLIGHT MINI – the logistical issues. Ordering manufactured boards from China takes a while, and can be a real pain. While it absolutely is much easier now for hobbyists to get PCBs manufactured than it used to be, it’s still quite the hassle. I talked more about this in my article about getting PCBs manufactured, but one mistake and you need to re-order your entire batch. This happened twice with STARLIGHT MINI.
Progress on the launch pad build & STARFLIGHT
Unfortunately, there’s only so much ground testing that can be done with a flight computer. It’s called a flight computer for a reason! I’ve been working a lot on the design and build of the launch pad that STARFLIGHT will fly on. At first, I was going to fly just STARLIGHT, but I may fly both STARLIGHT and STARLIGHT MINI on STARFLIGHT. Also, black powder is impossible for me to get my hands on, so a recovery system may not be possible (or it may have to be solenoid-based). Either way, STARFLIGHT is still in early development and will take a few more weeks, if not months to launch.
Reality check.
While the drive to launch rockets and dive into complex PCB design might seem like a full-time job (and sometimes it feels that way!), the reality is I also juggle the responsibilities of two part-time jobs and the work that comes with being a full-time high school student. Finding the time and energy to keep Circuit Wizardry moving forward can definitely be a challenge.
Despite these challenges, the drive to see this project succeed and create new and exciting products like STARLIGHT MINI is what keeps me pushing forward. Evenings and weekends are often spent working, and late nights are fueled by the dream of turning Circuit Wizardry into a thriving business. It’s not always easy, but my passion for this project is what keeps me motivated.
Conclusion
Running a business is hard, made even harder with the responsibilities that being a full-time high school student brings upon me. Juggling two part-time jobs on top of that leaves little room for error, but my passion for Circuit Wizardry burns bright. Evenings and weekends are spent meticulously crafting the future, and the late nights are fueled by the dream of this project taking flight. Despite the relentless demands, I understand the immense challenge of running a business, and I’m determined to see Circuit Wizardry and its creations like STARLIGHT MINI reach new heights.
You can expect STARLIGHT MINI to be ready for release within the next few days. I’m currently ironing out some software issues with the board, and should see it complete soon. I also want to be able to launch STARLIGHT MINI in my next model rocket, in order to prove the software works in the field. As we are approaching the summer, it will be much easier for me to do ground testing outside, which should significantly expedite my launches.
Until next time.
