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Sputnik and a Magical Christmas Memory

ne of the most memorable moments during my first year at Queens had nothing to do with medical school. In October

O1957, Russia launched Sputnik, the first orbiting satellite. I recall our physics professor coming into class, absolutely

brimming with excitement as he explained its significance. When I went home for Christmas that year, the excitement
continued. Amateur radio was a big deal back then, and my dad had plotted when Sputnik would pass within range of
Hamilton. We set up the radio and eagerly listened to its faint “beep, beep” signal. It was just a tiny satellite, but at the time,
it felt magical. Today, with thousands of satellites in orbit—Elon Musk alone must have many of them —it’s hard to imagine
the wonder we felt then.

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