.Publisher's Note: The adhering to is the content of a letter coming from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), assessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed significantly about specifics of this objective in the course of the month I have actually been below, mostly for pair of main reasons: the initial being that there has been incredibly little opportunity to do that sort of composing, and also given that I'm unsure how pleasant I am discussing notions I show family and friends along with the remainder of the world.Properly, certainly the world modified today. What I point out or even do is very slight reviewed to the significance of what occurred to our country today when it was attacked by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I suspect. Challenging to understand at whom to direct our temper and anxiety ...I had actually just finished a lot of jobs today, the best taxing being the physical examinations of all staff members. In an exclusive talk adhering to that, the flight plastic surgeon informed me they were actually possessing a very poor time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He explained the scenario to me as greatest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was thrown for a loop, at that point frightened. My 1st idea was actually that this had not been a true chat, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just didn't appear possible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't even visualize the details, even prior to the updates of further devastation started can be found in.Vladimir visited rather rapidly, noticing that something really major was actually being covered. I waved Michael in to the module as well. They were actually likewise astounded as well as stunned. After our team authorized off, I made an effort to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I can the potential immensity of this act of terror in downtown Manhattan as well as at the Government. They plainly understood and also were actually quite supportive.I eyed the World Chart on the personal computer to find where over the globe our experts were and observed that our company were coming southeast out of Canada as well as would certainly be actually overlooking New England in a couple of moments. I zoomed around the station until I discovered a window that will give me a sight of New York City and got hold of the local video camera. It occurred to become a camera, and I was actually looking south from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the city. After reading through among the newspaper article our team merely acquired, I think our company were examining NY around the moment of, or even not long after, the crash of the 2nd tower. How dreadful ...I scanned the electronic camera during the East Coastline to the south to see if I could possibly see every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing was visible.It was actually pretty difficult to deal with job afterwards, though we possessed some to do, yet on the next track we moved across the United States further south. All 3 people were actually operating a couple of cams to make an effort to get views of New york city or even Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no details source might be viewed. Everything appeared astonishing coming from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can not envision the unfortunate scenes on the ground.Other than the mental impact of our country being actually tackled and also 1000s of our people and maybe some friends being actually eliminated, the most mind-boggling feeling being where I am is among isolation.Following day ... I reckon the exhaustion as well as emotional tension got the greatest of me. I couldn't remain awake as well as continue to compose. Today was actually still difficult, but our experts began receiving additional info, plus we had the honor of speaking straight with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground teams would certainly continue to operate as well as ensure our safety, along with the safe operation of the Place. Our team also spoke with our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the Course are all totally devoted to carrying on safe procedures as well as help. These were never ever questions for me. I understand all these folks! The ground teams have actually been actually astonishingly helpful, incredibly understanding of the effect of the news, and have actually attempted to become as helpful as feasible. They have actually all been actually incredibly qualified as well as focused though I can't think of the disturbance of the sort of updates coming in and also the idea that authorities buildings could be in jeopardy. They never ever bypassed a beat, even when relocating nerve center. As well as a group of senior personnel and also close friends gave our team a rather complete rundown about what was actually known as well as what was being actually performed in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was extremely valuable as well as kind of all of them to perform in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has also been supportive and beneficial, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our own resources were unusable, and also stating kind terms ...My crewmates have been terrific, too. They know it is actually been a difficult day for me as well as the folks on the ground, and also they've tried to be as also keeled as well as useful as possible. Michael also fixed me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. And also they give me plenty of space to presume when I required it. They are actually quite thoughtful and also obviously shocked at whoever would certainly perform this.I know numerous people in Washington, plenty of individuals who travel to DC and also NYC, a lot of who are actually aviators, that I really felt sure I would certainly receive a minimum of a handful of items of problem over the following handful of times. I got the initial one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Government was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I found Chic during plebe summer months when our company remained in the D&B with each other, and our experts possessed bunches of classes all together. I can not imagine what he must of gone through, as well as currently I listen to that he might possess risen additionally than our company can easily also consider by perhaps preventing his plane coming from being actually the one to deal with the White House. What a dreadful loss, yet I make certain Chic was actually combating fearlessly to the end. And splits don't move the very same in space ...It is actually hard to illustrate how it experiences to become the only United States totally off the earth at a time like this. The sensation that I ought to exist with all of you, dealing with this, aiding in some way, is actually overwhelming. I understand that our team perform the limit (or even past) of a horrible shift in the history of the world. Several factors are going to certainly never be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the 1000s and thousands of people directly influenced by these horrible process of violence, yet probably for we all. Our team are going to locate our own selves feeling in different ways about lots of factors, including perhaps area expedition, regrettably.It's horrible to view smoke cigarettes putting from wounds in your very own country coming from such a great point of view. The duality of being on a spacecraft devoted to enhancing life on the planet and also watching life being actually damaged through such intentional, terrible process is jolting to the subconscious, despite that you are. And also the understanding that whatever will be actually various than when our team introduced due to the time our company land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our management that our team will certainly perform every little thing possible to much better defend her and our loved ones, and to bring justice of what has been actually performed. I have assurance that the excellent individuals at NASA will perform everything necessary to continue our mission properly as well as return our team safely and securely at the right time. As well as I miss each one of you very much. I can't exist along with you in person, as well as our company possess a long way to visit accomplish our mission, yet be actually particular that my center is actually along with you, as well as understand you are in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last character ... Luckily, it's been actually a busy full week up right here. As well as to confirm that, like our country, our team are continuing on our designated road with company customarily (as long as achievable). Tonight the current addition to the station, the Russian Docking Area will definitely be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (US opportunity), it will certainly dock with our company, at a slot never ever utilized before on the nadir side of the Solution Component. This new module will provide our company an additional spot to dock a Progression or Soyuz and are going to provide a huge airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our experts will definitely perform a few of prior to we get back.The complication before in managing today was insufficient updates. The issue today is way too much. It arrived all at once when e-mail was recovered, and there's inadequate time to read all of it! Plus it's too challenging to take care of all of it simultaneously. Yet I value obtaining it, and also I truly enjoy the fantastic letters of assistance and also friendship I am actually getting.We are prospering on board, obtaining our work performed, and referring to traits. Last evening our experts possessed a long conversation over supper about the implication of these activities, the achievable activities to adhere to, and what should be actually carried out. After supper, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he acquired from close friends in Russia mentioned especially to inform me just how regretful they were that this taken place, stretching their acknowledgements, and talking to exactly how I was carrying out. Vladimir educated me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are actually a lot very long to pronounce conveniently.) Very type people.For the final 2 days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to send online broadcasts of broadcast headlines concerning the occasion and also affiliated stories, to ensure I was actually effectively informed. Every specialist that has come on the line to discuss a method or even a complication has at some point stretched introductions to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that due to the wedding day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day folks had been actually carrying florals as well as lining all the walls of the United States embassy in Moscow, and also this night they were actually lighting candle lights in the road outside the consulate. Exactly how the planet has transformed.Folks anywhere appear to realize the senselessness and terror in this particular strike. As well as the incredible loss. Moscow has handled these type of complications in the last handful of years with home as well as subway bombings, so they are actually as restless to do away with this threat as our team are. Yet all-time low collection is that there are actually really good folks anywhere who wish to reside in tranquility. I read that a child talked to, "America is so great to other countries, our team consistently aid every person, just how can they hate us a lot?".I hope the instance of teamwork and trust fund that this space probe and all the people in the course illustrate daily will someday encourage the remainder of the world to function similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our experts won't be flying over the US during the time folks are lighting candle lights. Do not know if our company might view that in any case. Our experts did, nevertheless, see a very unusual and wonderful attraction a handful of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. We were overtaking it as well as it came into view about 3 moments after its own launch from Baikonur as the sun hit our terminal, so it was still at night. It seemed like a large comet along with a directly, large rear silhouetted against the black earth below. Regardless of some poor lights for a while as the sun struck our window at a low angle, I dealt with some video of it as initially our team passed the rocket, and afterwards watched it start to mesmerize as it got altitude and also speed. I shot until principal engine deadline and booster splitting up took place just like our team moved toward dawn on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable view in an unforgettable full week ...Lifestyle goes on, even precede. We're below to stay ... Frank.