.Editor's Details: The following is actually the text message of a character coming from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reviewing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed very much concerning specifics of this purpose in the course of the month I have actually been actually right here, mainly for two factors: the 1st being that there has been actually incredibly little time to perform that sort of composing, and second of all because I am actually not exactly sure how comfortable I am sharing notions I share with friends and family along with the rest of the planet.Properly, obviously the globe transformed today. What I say or perform is extremely small matched up to the value of what happened to our country today when it was actually struck by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we know, I reckon. Challenging to recognize at whom to direct our temper as well as concern ...I had actually only ended up a number of activities today, the best taxing being actually the physical examinations of all staff participants. In a private chat complying with that, the tour doctor informed me they were possessing an incredibly negative day on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He illustrated the circumstance to me as greatest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually astonished, then alarmed. My initial thought was that this wasn't an actual talk, that I was still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely didn't appear feasible on this scale in our country. I could not also visualize the details, also prior to the updates of further destruction started being available in.Vladimir came over fairly swiftly, picking up that something very significant was being discussed. I waved Michael in to the element at the same time. They were additionally surprised as well as stunned. After we signed off, I tried to reveal to Vladimir and Michael as absolute best I can the potential enormity of the show of terror in midtown Manhattan and at the Pentagon. They precisely understood and also were actually really thoughtful.I eyed the Planet Chart on the personal computer to see where over the globe our company were actually and discovered that we were actually happening southeast away from Canada and will be overlooking New England in a few mins. I whized around the terminal till I located a window that will provide me a sight of New York City as well as snatched the nearest cam. It happened to be a camera, and also I was looking southern coming from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke appeared to possess an odd bloom to it at the foundation of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the city. After reading through among the newspaper article we only acquired, I think we were actually taking a look at NY around the amount of time of, or quickly after, the crash of the 2nd tower. How horrible ...I scanned the camera during the East Coast to the south to view if I can view every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing at all was visible.It was actually rather challenging to consider job after that, though our company possessed some to accomplish, however on the next orbit our team traversed the United States additional southern. All three people were working 1 or 2 video cameras to try to obtain scenery of The big apple or Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no particular resource can be found. Everything looked incredible coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not envision the terrible scenes on the ground.Besides the mental effect of our nation being actually tackled and also countless our residents and also perhaps some friends being actually gotten rid of, the best overwhelming sensation being where I am actually is among isolation.Next day ... I suspect the exhaustion and emotional pressure acquired the best of me. I couldn't keep awake as well as remain to compose. Today was actually still difficult, however we started acquiring additional information, plus our team had the tribute of chatting directly along with the Center Director, Roy Estess, who guaranteed our team that the ground crews will continue to function as well as ensure our security, and also the risk-free operation of the Station. Our team also talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that included that the companions in the Program are all absolutely committed to carrying on secure operations and also help. These were actually certainly never inquiries for me. I understand all these individuals! The ground crews have actually been unbelievably supportive, really understanding of the influence of the headlines, as well as have tried to become as practical as feasible. They have all been actually very expert as well as focused though I can not imagine the diversion of this form of news coming in as well as the thought that government properties might be in danger. They never ever avoided a beat, even when relocating control centers. As well as a team of elderly workers as well as close friends offered our company a fairly extensive briefing about what was actually known and what was being actually performed in the authorities and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually extremely beneficial and kind of them to carry out in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been supporting as well as practical, trying to uplink news articles when our very own possessions were unusable, and also stating kind words ...My crewmates have been terrific, also. They recognize it is actually been actually a tough day for me as well as the people on the ground, and they've made an effort to be as also keeled as well as useful as achievable. Michael even fixed me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me a lot of room to presume when I needed it. They are extremely considerate as well as naturally shocked at whoever would do this.I recognize so many folks in Washington, plenty of people that travel to DC and also New York City, numerous who are actually aviators, that I really felt sure I will acquire at the very least a couple of parts of trouble over the next handful of days. I obtained the 1st one today when I discovered that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I found Chic in the course of cadet summer season when our company remained in the D&B together, and also our team possessed tons of lessons with each other. I can't envision what he needs to of undergone, as well as currently I hear that he may have risen even further than we can even think of by probably preventing his aircraft from being the one to deal with the White Residence. What an awful reduction, however I'm sure Chic was combating bravely to the end. And splits do not stream the exact same in space ...It's hard to define exactly how it experiences to be the only American entirely off the world each time such as this. The sensation that I must be there along with every one of you, handling this, helping somehow, is actually mind-boggling. I know that our experts are on the limit (or past) of a horrendous change in the history of the globe. Several points are going to never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the manies thousand and hundreds of people straight had an effect on by these horrible actions of terrorism, however perhaps for all of us. Our team will definitely locate our own selves feeling differently concerning dozens of points, including perhaps room expedition, unfortunately.It is actually dreadful to observe smoke pouring coming from cuts in your very own country from such an amazing viewpoint. The dichotomy of performing a space capsule committed to enhancing daily life on the planet and checking out life being actually destroyed through such deliberate, terrible actions is jolting to the mind, no matter who you are. As well as the knowledge that every little thing will definitely be actually various than when our company released due to the time our team land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our leadership that our experts are going to carry out everything achievable to better guard her and our loved ones, as well as to carry justice for what has been actually done. I possess self-confidence that the excellent individuals at NASA will do every little thing important to proceed our mission safely and also return our company safely at the right time. As well as I overlook each of you significantly. I can't be there along with you in person, as well as our company have a very long way to go to complete our goal, but be specific that my soul is with you, as well as understand you reside in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final letter ... The good news is, it's been actually an active week up listed here. And also to prove that, like our country, we are actually continuing our planned pathway along with service as usual (as long as feasible). Tonight the latest add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (US time), it will dock along with our team, at a port never made use of just before on the low point side of the Solution Element. This brand-new module will definitely give us an additional area to dock an Improvement or even Soyuz and are going to offer a big airlock with two able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our company will certainly carry out a few of just before our company get home.The problem just before in handling this week was actually too little information. The problem right now is actually way too much. It arrived all at once when email was rejuvenated, as well as there is actually insufficient opportunity to review all of it! Plus it is actually also challenging to cope with all of it simultaneously. But I enjoy receiving it, as well as I actually appreciate the wonderful characters of support and friendship I am actually receiving.Our team are flourishing on board, getting our job performed, as well as referring to things. Final evening we possessed a long dialogue over supper about the significance of these occasions, the feasible activities to follow, as well as what must be actually performed. After supper, Michael resolved informing me that every email he received coming from friends in Russia pointed out specifically to tell me how sorry they were actually that this happened, expanding their acknowledgements, as well as talking to exactly how I was carrying out. Vladimir instructed me the Russian term for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Urban area. (Both the Russian and the English words are considerably extremely long to pronounce quickly.) Really kind individuals.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to send live programs of radio updates regarding the activity and associated accounts, to ensure I was well updated. Every specialist who has started free throw line to go over an operation or an issue has at some point expanded hellos to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that because of the wedding day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day folks had been carrying flowers as well as lining all the wall surfaces of the US consular office in Moscow, and also this evening they were actually igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consulate. How the planet has altered.Folks just about everywhere seem to acknowledge the senselessness and also horror within this attack. And also the remarkable reduction. Moscow has actually coped with these kind of complications in the last handful of years along with condo as well as metro bombings, so they are as distressed to eliminate this hazard as our company are. But the bottom collection is that there are good individuals just about everywhere that would like to live in peace. I review that a little one inquired, "America is actually so great to other nations, we consistently help everybody, exactly how can they despise us a lot?".I hope the instance of teamwork and rely on that this space probe and all individuals in the program demonstrate daily are going to one day motivate the rest of the planet to function similarly. They must!Regrettably, our experts will not be actually taking flight over the United States during the time individuals are igniting candles. Don't understand if our experts might see that anyway. Our team carried out, however, observe a quite unique and also stunning view a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were actually surpassing it and also it appeared regarding three mins after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight hit our terminal, so it was actually still unaware. It looked like a big comet with a right, vast tail silhouetted versus the black earth underneath. Regardless of some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sunlight struck our window at a reduced angle, I handled some video of it as initially our team passed the spacecraft, and after that saw it begin to catch up as it got elevation and rate. I recorded till principal motor deadline as well as booster splitting up happened equally we moved toward daybreak on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable sight in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle goes on, also in space. Our team're listed here to keep ... Frank.