.Editor's Details: The adhering to is actually the content of a letter coming from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reflecting on the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created significantly about specifics of the mission throughout the month I have actually been actually right here, mostly for pair of factors: the initial being actually that there has been actually extremely little time to carry out that sort of composing, as well as second of all since I am actually not sure exactly how pleasant I am discussing thoughts I share with family and friends with the remainder of the planet.Properly, definitely the planet altered today. What I mention or perform is actually quite slight contrasted to the value of what occurred to our nation today when it was actually struck by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I guess. Hard to recognize at whom to direct our rage as well as anxiety ...I had only finished an amount of jobs today, one of the most taxing being actually the physical exams of all staff members. In a personal discussion complying with that, the air travel specialist told me they were possessing a very bad time on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He described the condition to me as finest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually amazed, at that point horrified. My initial thought was that this had not been a real conversation, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It only really did not seem possible on this incrustation in our nation. I couldn't even think of the particulars, also prior to the headlines of further destruction started coming in.Vladimir came by fairly promptly, sensing that one thing really severe was actually being covered. I swayed Michael into the element as well. They were also surprised as well as stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to detail to Vladimir as well as Michael as finest I could the prospective immensity of this show of terror in midtown Manhattan and also at the Government. They clearly knew as well as were quite considerate.I glanced at the World Chart on the pc to see where over the planet we were actually and saw that we were happening southeast out of Canada and would be passing over New England in a couple of minutes. I zoomed around the station up until I located a window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City and ordered the local cam. It happened to be a video camera, and also I was actually appearing south coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have a strange flower to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After checking out among the newspaper article our company simply obtained, I feel our team were actually examining NY around the moment of, or even shortly after, the crash of the second tower. Just how horrendous ...I panned the video camera all along the East Coastline to the south to find if I might see some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was quite tough to consider job after that, though our company possessed some to do, however on the next orbit our experts crossed the United States further southern. All 3 of us were actually working one or two electronic cameras to attempt to acquire views of New York or Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no certain source might be found. It all looked extraordinary from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can not envision the awful settings on the ground.Apart from the emotional influence of our country being tackled and also countless our residents and also possibly some friends being actually killed, one of the most difficult feeling being actually where I am is among isolation.Following day ... I guess the fatigue as well as mental strain got the most ideal of me. I couldn't stay awake and remain to compose. Today was actually still complicated, yet our company started receiving more relevant information, plus we possessed the tribute of speaking straight along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that assured our company that the ground teams would remain to function and also ensure our safety and security, in addition to the secure operation of the Place. Our team additionally talked to our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who included that the partners in the Plan are actually all completely devoted to continuing risk-free operations and help. These were actually never questions for me. I understand all these people! The ground crews have been very supporting, incredibly understanding of the influence of the news, as well as have tried to be as valuable as possible. They have actually all been incredibly professional and also concentrated though I can not imagine the distraction of the sort of updates being available in and the idea that federal government properties might be in jeopardy. They never avoided a beat, even when relocating control centers. And a group of elderly workers and close friends provided our company a fairly complete rundown on what was actually recognized and what was actually being performed in the federal government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually extremely valuable as well as type of them to accomplish in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been actually supportive and also helpful, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our personal resources were actually unusable, and also claiming kind phrases ...My crewmates have been excellent, as well. They recognize it is actually been actually a hard time for me and the folks on the ground, and also they've made an effort to be as also keeled as well as helpful as achievable. Michael also fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for dinner. And also they offer me loads of area to believe when I needed it. They are incredibly thoughtful as well as obviously outraged at whoever will do this.I recognize many individuals in Washington, numerous people that take a trip to DC and NYC, numerous that are pilots, that I felt sure I would certainly get at least a handful of parts of problem over the following couple of times. I received the 1st one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that reached the Government was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of plebe summer months when our company resided in the D&B with each other, as well as our team had considerable amounts of lessons all together. I can't visualize what he should of looked at, and also now I listen to that he might have climbed better than our experts can easily also think about by perhaps stopping his aircraft from being the one to deal with the White House. What a horrible loss, but I'm sure Chic was actually fighting fearlessly throughout. And rips do not move the same in space ...It's hard to describe how it experiences to become the only American totally off the planet at once like this. The feeling that I need to be there with each one of you, coping with this, assisting in some way, is difficult. I know that our team get on the limit (or even beyond) of a horrendous shift in the background of the globe. Many traits will definitely never coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the 1000s as well as lots of people directly impacted through these ghastly acts of terrorism, but perhaps for all of us. We will definitely discover our own selves feeling differently about loads of points, including perhaps area exploration, sadly.It is actually horrible to find smoke putting coming from wounds in your very own nation from such an amazing angle. The dichotomy of performing a space capsule committed to enhancing live on the earth and seeing lifestyle being destroyed by such unforced, awful process is actually jolting to the subconscious, despite that you are actually. And also the understanding that whatever are going to be actually different than when our company released by the opportunity our experts land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our leadership that our experts are going to carry out every little thing possible to far better guard her as well as our family members, and also to bring justice of what has actually been carried out. I possess confidence that the really good folks at NASA will certainly perform whatever required to continue our mission safely and return our company safely at the correct time. And also I miss out on all of you significantly. I can not be there with you in person, as well as our team have a very long way to go to finish our objective, however be actually particular that my soul is actually with you, and know you remain in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... Thankfully, it's been a hectic full week up here. As well as to prove that, like our nation, our team are advancing our planned course along with organization customarily (as much as feasible). Tonight the most recent enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will definitely be actually released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States time), it will definitely dock along with our company, at a slot certainly never made use of just before on the low point side of the Company Module. This brand new module will definitely give our team one more spot to dock a Development or even Soyuz and also will definitely offer a large airlock along with two useable hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our team will certainly carry out a few of prior to our company come home.The trouble prior to in handling recently was actually insufficient updates. The problem right now is too much. It came simultaneously when email was rejuvenated, as well as there's inadequate time to review it all! Plus it is actually as well hard to handle all of it simultaneously. But I value getting it, and I really appreciate the great letters of help and also friendly relationship I am receiving.Our experts are flourishing aboard, obtaining our job done, as well as talking about points. Final evening our experts had a long discussion over supper regarding the implication of these occasions, the achievable activities to comply with, and what must be actually carried out. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every e-mail he got coming from buddies in Russia stated particularly to tell me exactly how regretful they were that this taken place, expanding their acknowledgements, and also asking just how I was performing. Vladimir showed me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Area. (Both the Russian and the English terms are much very long to verbalize easily.) Quite type individuals.For the final pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to send live broadcasts of broadcast news concerning the activity as well as affiliated tales, to make certain I was properly notified. Every specialist who has actually started free throw line to discuss an operation or even an issue contends some point expanded introductions to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that as a result of the big day of recognition in the US, all the time folks had actually been taking flowers and also lining all the walls of the US consular office in Moscow, and this evening they were actually lighting candlesticks in the street outside the consulate. Exactly how the globe has actually altered.People anywhere seem to recognize the senselessness and horror within this assault. And the incredible reduction. Moscow has actually managed these sort of complications in the last handful of years along with home as well as metro battles, so they are actually as anxious to get rid of this hazard as our team are actually. But all-time low product line is that there are excellent people all over that intend to reside in tranquility. I check out that a kid talked to, "The United States is so really good to other nations, our company regularly assist every person, just how can they dislike us a lot?".I wish the instance of cooperation as well as count on that this space probe and all people in the program demonstrate daily are going to one day inspire the rest of the world to work similarly. They must!However, we will not be actually taking flight over the United States while folks are actually lighting candle lights. Do not know if we could observe that anyway. Our experts performed, however, view a quite unusual as well as lovely attraction a couple of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. We were actually overtaking it as well as it emerged concerning three moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight struck our station, so it was actually still at night. It resembled a sizable comet along with a directly, large rear silhouetted versus the darker earth beneath. Even with some negative lighting fixtures for some time as the sun hit our window at a low position, I took care of some online video of it as initially our team passed the rocket, and then watched it begin to catch up as it acquired elevation and also speed. I filmed till principal motor cutoff and enhancer separation happened just like our company approached dawn on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable view in an extraordinary week ...Lifestyle goes on, even precede. Our team are actually right here to stay ... Frank.