.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is the text message of a letter coming from Exploration 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reviewing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed significantly regarding specifics of this particular objective during the course of the month I have actually been listed here, primarily for 2 causes: the very first being actually that there has been very little time to perform that kind of composing, and also also since I'm unsure how relaxed I am sharing thoughts I provide friends and family along with the rest of the world.Properly, certainly the world transformed today. What I claim or even carry out is very minor reviewed to the implication of what occurred to our nation today when it was attacked through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I reckon. Challenging to recognize at whom to route our rage and anxiety ...I had only finished an amount of activities this morning, the best lengthy being actually the physical examinations of all staff participants. In a private conversation following that, the air travel doctor informed me they were actually possessing an incredibly poor time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He described the condition to me as absolute best he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually shocked, at that point horrified. My initial thought and feelings was actually that this had not been an actual discussion, that I was still listening closely to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to seem feasible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't also envision the particulars, even just before the information of further destruction began coming in.Vladimir visited fairly rapidly, picking up that something really serious was being explained. I swung Michael in to the element too. They were actually also surprised and stunned. After our experts signed off, I attempted to discuss to Vladimir and Michael as ideal I can the possible size of the show of terror in downtown Manhattan as well as at the Pentagon. They precisely recognized as well as were actually really sympathetic.I eyed the Planet Chart on the computer system to view where over the planet our experts were and also noticed that our experts were actually happening southeast away from Canada and would certainly be actually overlooking New England in a handful of minutes. I whized around the station until I located a window that will give me a perspective of New York City and also got hold of the nearest video camera. It happened to be a video camera, and I was appearing southern coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to possess a strange flower to it at the foundation of the column that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After going through some of the newspaper article we simply acquired, I feel we were actually examining NY around the moment of, or even soon after, the collapse of the 2nd tower. Just how dreadful ...I panned the electronic camera the whole time the East Shoreline to the south to see if I could view some other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was rather challenging to deal with work afterwards, though our company possessed some to carry out, however on the next track our experts traversed the US additional southern. All three of us were operating 1 or 2 electronic cameras to try to receive perspectives of Nyc or even Washington. There was haze over Washington, yet no certain resource could be seen. All of it appeared amazing from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not visualize the unfortunate settings on the ground.Apart from the emotional influence of our nation being actually attacked and also lots of our people as well as maybe some pals being actually gotten rid of, the absolute most overwhelming feeling being actually where I am is one of isolation.Following day ... I presume the fatigue and emotional tension received the very best of me. I could not keep awake as well as remain to compose. Today was still challenging, yet our team began receiving even more relevant information, plus our team possessed the honor of chatting directly with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground groups would remain to work and also ensure our protection, and also the secure operation of the Place. We likewise talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the Course are all totally dedicated to continuing secure operations and also support. These were actually never questions for me. I understand all these folks! The ground groups have actually been extremely supportive, incredibly understanding of the effect of the headlines, as well as have actually attempted to become as useful as feasible. They have all been actually very qualified as well as focused though I can't think of the disturbance of this particular kind of headlines being available in and also the notion that authorities structures may be in danger. They certainly never avoided a beat, even when moving control centers. And also a group of senior workers as well as buddies offered our team a pretty extensive briefing on what was actually recognized and what was being performed in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was incredibly valuable as well as type of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been actually helpful and also beneficial, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our very own possessions were unusable, and pointing out kind phrases ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, also. They know it's been actually a tough time for me as well as the folks on the ground, and they've attempted to become as even keeled and useful as feasible. Michael even corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. As well as they give me loads of space to assume when I needed it. They are actually really thoughtful and also naturally outraged at whoever would do this.I understand numerous folks in Washington, so many individuals that take a trip to DC as well as NYC, so many that are actually captains, that I experienced sure I would get a minimum of a couple of parts of problem over the following handful of times. I acquired the initial one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that hit the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I found Chic throughout plebe summer season when we resided in the D&B all together, and also our company had bunches of classes all together. I can't envision what he must of gone through, and right now I listen to that he may have increased additionally than our company can also think of through possibly stopping his plane coming from being the one to tackle the White House. What a horrible loss, yet I make sure Chic was battling bravely to the end. And also tears don't stream the exact same in space ...It is actually hard to define just how it experiences to be the only United States totally off the world each time such as this. The sensation that I should be there with all of you, dealing with this, helping in some way, is frustrating. I understand that our company are on the limit (or past) of a terrible shift in the record of the globe. A lot of points will never coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the 1000s and 1000s of individuals directly had an effect on through these hideous process of violence, yet perhaps for we all. We will discover our own selves really feeling differently concerning dozens of points, including perhaps room expedition, unfortunately.It is actually dreadful to find smoke cigarettes putting from cuts in your very own nation from such an awesome perspective. The dichotomy of being on a space capsule devoted to improving everyday life on the earth and seeing life being destroyed by such premeditated, dreadful process is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of who you are. As well as the expertise that whatever will definitely be various than when our experts released by the time our company land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our country as well as in our leadership that our experts will do whatever possible to better defend her and our family members, and also to bring compensation for what has actually been actually done. I have confidence that the great folks at NASA will definitely perform whatever needed to continue our mission carefully and also return our team safely at the right time. And I miss all of you significantly. I can't exist with you in person, and also we have a long way to head to complete our goal, yet be certain that my heart is along with you, and also know you reside in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final character ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually a busy week up listed here. As well as to confirm that, like our country, we are actually advancing our planned path along with business customarily (as much as possible). Tonight the latest add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Area will definitely be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States time), it will dock with us, at a port certainly never used before on the nadir side of the Company Element. This brand-new element will provide our team one more location to dock a Development or even Soyuz and are going to offer a huge airlock along with two able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our team will definitely perform a few of prior to our company get home.The concern prior to in taking care of today was actually insufficient information. The concern today is actually excessive. It arrived all at once when email was actually recovered, and there is actually not nearly enough opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's as well difficult to handle all of it instantly. Yet I value getting it, and also I definitely cherish the terrific letters of help as well as companionship I am actually acquiring.Our experts are actually doing well on board, getting our work done, and also discussing factors. Last evening our team had a long dialogue over dinner concerning the value of these celebrations, the feasible actions to follow, as well as what must be carried out. After dinner, Michael resolved informing me that every e-mail he received coming from good friends in Russia claimed primarily to tell me exactly how sorry they were actually that this taken place, expanding their condolences, and also talking to how I was doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian term for "condolences" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English words are actually much extremely long to articulate quickly.) Quite type individuals.For the final 2 days, the Russian MCC has sufficed to transfer live programs of broadcast headlines regarding the activity and linked stories, to be sure I was properly educated. Every professional that has come on the line to discuss a technique or even a complication has at some point prolonged hellos to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our team that due to the wedding of recognition in the US, throughout the day folks had actually been bringing flowers and edging all the wall structures of the US consulate in Moscow, and this night they were lighting candles in the street outside the consular office. Just how the planet has altered.Folks all over seem to identify the senselessness and also terror within this assault. And also the remarkable reduction. Moscow has managed these sort of troubles in the final few years along with home and also train battles, so they are actually as restless to do away with this threat as our team are. Yet all-time low product line is actually that there are actually great individuals everywhere that wish to live in calmness. I read through that a child asked, "The United States is therefore good to other countries, our team always aid every person, how can they despise our company so much?".I wish the example of collaboration and leave that this space capsule and all individuals in the system illustrate daily will someday inspire the rest of the globe to work the same way. They must!However, we won't be piloting over the United States while people are actually lighting candles. Don't recognize if our team can view that in any case. Our company performed, nonetheless, view a really uncommon and also attractive sight a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were surpassing it as well as it emerged about three mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our terminal, so it was actually still at night. It resembled a huge comet with a directly, broad tail silhouetted against the black world underneath. Despite some poor lighting for a while as the sun struck our home window at a reduced position, I handled some video clip of it as to begin with we passed the rocket, and then enjoyed it begin to mesmerize as it gained height and rate. I shot till principal engine deadline and booster splitting up happened equally as our experts came close to dawn on the Himalayas. An unforgettable attraction in an extraordinary full week ...Life happens, even precede. Our company are actually here to remain ... Frank.