Drifting from TTL homebrew computers into NE-2 relaxation oscillators - The year Sputnik went up - October 1957 - I built a Sputnik oriented Christmas tree ornament for my sister. The "earth" was 3" transparent plastic tube cylinder barely large enough to hold a selenium rectifier, small electrolytic capacitor, 47K resistors and disk capacitors. The transparent tube orbit had three support tubes, and contained the seven NE-2 gas tubes. I thought it cute but was disappointed that the start-up and operation was so unpredictable. Direction of rotation and number of satellites was variable. But my sister was delighted, and has it to this day - but it now goes on the tree only when I visit. Time has been unkind. The gleaming wires have turned ugly black, the plastic yellowed, the lamp cord dried and cracked, and I forget if it still works ... .