.Editor's Keep in mind: The observing is actually the text message of a letter from Exploration Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written very much concerning specifics of this particular mission throughout the month I have actually been below, mostly for pair of main reasons: the initial being that there has actually been extremely little opportunity to perform that kind of composing, as well as secondly because I'm uncertain how comfortable I am sharing thoughts I show to family and friends along with the rest of the globe.Well, definitely the planet changed today. What I claim or carry out is actually really minor compared to the significance of what occurred to our country today when it was actually assaulted by ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we know, I think. Tough to recognize at whom to route our temper and fear ...I had only finished a number of jobs this morning, the best taxing being the physical examinations of all crew members. In a personal conversation complying with that, the tour plastic surgeon informed me they were actually possessing an extremely bad day on the ground. I had no tip ...He explained the condition to me as ideal he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually dumbfounded, after that terrified. My very first thought was that this had not been a true discussion, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just didn't seem to be achievable on this scale in our nation. I couldn't also imagine the details, even prior to the updates of additional damage began being available in.Vladimir came by pretty swiftly, noticing that one thing really serious was actually being actually explained. I swayed Michael in to the module too. They were likewise impressed as well as stunned. After our experts authorized off, I tried to describe to Vladimir and also Michael as finest I could possibly the potential size of this particular act of horror in downtown Manhattan as well as at the Government. They clearly comprehended and also were incredibly considerate.I browsed the Planet Map on the computer system to see where over the globe our experts were actually and saw that our team were actually coming southeast out of Canada and would certainly be passing over New England in a few mins. I whized around the station until I discovered a window that would certainly give me a perspective of NYC and also ordered the nearby video camera. It took place to become a video camera, and I was appearing southern from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to have an odd bloom to it at the base of the column that was actually streaming south of the urban area. After reading through one of the news articles we simply received, I feel our team were examining NY around the moment of, or shortly after, the failure of the second tower. How horrendous ...I swept the electronic camera during the East Coast to the south to see if I can see every other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, but absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually rather hard to deal with job after that, though our team had some to accomplish, but on the next orbit we went across the US more south. All 3 people were actually working a couple of electronic cameras to try to obtain viewpoints of Nyc or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no specific source can be seen. Everything looked unbelievable coming from a couple of hundred miles away. I can't think of the awful scenes on the ground.Besides the mental influence of our nation being actually dealt with and thousands of our residents as well as maybe some buddies being killed, the best overwhelming sensation being actually where I am is just one of solitude.Following day ... I reckon the tiredness as well as mental tension acquired the very best of me. I could not keep awake and remain to compose. Today was actually still tough, yet our experts started obtaining additional details, plus our company possessed the tribute of speaking straight along with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured our team that the ground teams would certainly continue to operate and also guarantee our safety and security, as well as the safe function of the Place. We additionally learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, that included that the partners in the Plan are all totally devoted to carrying on secure functions and help. These were certainly never inquiries for me. I know all these individuals! The ground staffs have been astonishingly supporting, really understanding of the influence of the headlines, and have actually tried to be as helpful as feasible. They have actually all been actually extremely specialist as well as focused though I can not picture the distraction of this sort of information can be found in and the notion that authorities buildings might be in danger. They never ever skipped a beat, even when relocating control centers. As well as a team of senior staffs as well as close friends provided our company a rather detailed briefing about what was actually recognized and also what was actually being done in the government and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was really useful as well as kind of them to carry out in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has likewise been supporting and also practical, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own resources were inoperable, as well as mentioning kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually great, also. They understand it is actually been actually a hard day for me and the individuals on the ground, and they have actually tried to be as even keeled and beneficial as possible. Michael even repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. As well as they give me loads of space to believe when I required it. They are extremely thoughtful as well as obviously shocked at whoever would perform this.I recognize so many folks in Washington, so many individuals that take a trip to DC and also NYC, numerous who are actually flies, that I experienced sure I will receive at the very least a few parts of bad news over the following few days. I obtained the initial one today when I knew that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I found Chic during cadet summer when we resided in the D&B with each other, and our experts had considerable amounts of classes together. I can't visualize what he needs to of experienced, and now I hear that he may have climbed better than our experts can easily also think about by perhaps stopping his plane coming from being actually the one to attack the White Residence. What a horrible reduction, yet I make certain Chic was actually combating bravely throughout. And also rips do not circulate the very same precede ...It is actually complicated to illustrate just how it really feels to be the only American entirely off the planet at a time including this. The emotion that I ought to exist along with every one of you, dealing with this, helping somehow, is actually overwhelming. I recognize that we are on the threshold (or past) of a horrendous change in the record of the globe. Numerous things will certainly never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the manies thousand and hundreds of people directly impacted through these horrible acts of terrorism, but most likely for everybody. Our company will definitely discover our own selves really feeling in a different way about dozens of things, featuring perhaps area expedition, sadly.It's horrendous to see smoke cigarettes putting from cuts in your personal country from such a wonderful perspective. The dichotomy of getting on a spacecraft dedicated to boosting daily life on the planet as well as viewing life being actually destroyed through such premeditated, terrible actions is jolting to the psyche, regardless of who you are. And also the knowledge that every little thing will be different than when our company launched due to the opportunity our company land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country as well as in our management that we will definitely perform every thing achievable to much better shield her as well as our family members, and to take justice for what has been actually carried out. I possess confidence that the good individuals at NASA are going to do every little thing needed to proceed our mission safely as well as return our team properly at the correct time. And I skip every one of you significantly. I can not exist with you face to face, and our experts have a long way to visit accomplish our purpose, but be actually certain that my heart is with you, and recognize you remain in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final letter ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually an active week up right here. And to verify that, like our country, our experts are actually continuing on our intended road along with service customarily (as high as feasible). Tonight the most up to date add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States opportunity), it is going to dock along with us, at a slot never used before on the nadir side of the Solution Module. This new module will offer our company one more place to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also are going to offer a big airlock along with 2 able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which we will certainly perform a few of before our company get back.The trouble just before in managing recently was too little information. The complication now is a lot of. It arrived at one time when e-mail was actually brought back, and there is actually not enough opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's as well tough to handle all of it immediately. Yet I appreciate acquiring it, as well as I actually enjoy the fantastic letters of help and friendly relationship I am acquiring.We are actually prospering aboard, receiving our work carried out, and also referring to points. Final night our company had a lengthy conversation over dinner about the significance of these activities, the possible actions to comply with, and what ought to be actually carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every e-mail he received coming from close friends in Russia stated especially to inform me how sorry they were that this happened, expanding their acknowledgements, as well as inquiring just how I was actually performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Urban area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are a lot too lengthy to pronounce conveniently.) Very type people.For the final 2 times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transfer online programs of broadcast news about the occasion and also connected stories, to be sure I was effectively updated. Every specialist that has come on the line to go over a procedure or a complication has at some factor prolonged greetings to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that as a result of the wedding of remembrance in the United States, all the time people had actually been actually taking blooms and edging all the wall structures of the US consulate in Moscow, and also this night they were lighting candlesticks in the street outside the embassy. Just how the globe has transformed.Individuals just about everywhere appear to identify the senselessness and terror in this assault. And also the remarkable loss. Moscow has actually handled these kind of troubles in the final handful of years with home and also train battles, so they are as anxious to get rid of this risk as we are actually. Yet the bottom collection is that there are excellent people anywhere who desire to reside in peace. I check out that a little one asked, "The United States is actually thus great to various other countries, our company regularly help every person, just how can they detest our team so much?".I wish the example of teamwork and trust fund that this space capsule and all individuals in the system demonstrate daily will at some point motivate the rest of the planet to operate the same way. They must!Sadly, our team won't be actually flying over the US while people are actually igniting candlesticks. Do not know if our team could possibly view that anyway. We performed, nevertheless, observe a really unusual as well as lovely attraction a couple of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our team were actually overtaking it and it came into view concerning three minutes after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our station, so it was actually still in the dark. It appeared like a large comet with a straight, vast tail silhouetted versus the dark earth beneath. Even with some bad illumination for some time as the sun struck our home window at a reduced position, I dealt with some video recording of it as initially our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that saw it start to catch up as it gained elevation as well as velocity. I filmed until main motor deadline and enhancer splitting up happened equally our company moved toward sunrise on the Mountain ranges. A memorable sight in an unforgettable week ...Lifestyle happens, also in space. Our team are actually here to stay ... Frank.