.Publisher's Note: The observing is actually the text message of a letter coming from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), assessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written significantly about specifics of this purpose during the month I have actually been listed below, mainly for 2 causes: the 1st being that there has actually been actually quite little time to perform that type of writing, as well as also since I'm not sure exactly how comfortable I am discussing ideas I provide family and friends with the rest of the globe.Well, certainly the globe transformed today. What I state or even perform is very small contrasted to the significance of what occurred to our country today when it was actually attacked by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we know, I suppose. Hard to recognize at whom to direct our anger as well as fear ...I had actually only completed an amount of jobs this morning, one of the most lengthy being the physical exams of all workers members. In a private talk observing that, the air travel cosmetic surgeon told me they were possessing a really bad day on the ground. I had no idea ...He illustrated the scenario to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was amazed, at that point terrified. My 1st thought was that this had not been a genuine discussion, that I was still paying attention to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely failed to appear feasible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even envision the details, even prior to the information of additional destruction began coming in.Vladimir came over rather rapidly, picking up that one thing quite significant was actually being covered. I swayed Michael in to the component at the same time. They were additionally surprised and stunned. After we signed off, I tried to discuss to Vladimir and also Michael as finest I could the potential magnitude of this particular act of fear in downtown Manhattan as well as at the Government. They accurately comprehended and also were really compassionate.I glanced at the Globe Map on the computer system to view where over the planet our company were and also noticed that our company were happening southeast away from Canada and also would certainly be actually overlooking New England in a couple of mins. I zipped around the station until I located a window that would offer me a sight of New York City as well as took hold of the nearby video camera. It took place to become a video camera, as well as I was appearing southern from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess a strange flower to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reading through some of the news articles our experts just got, I feel we were actually taking a look at NY around the moment of, or even not long after, the crash of the 2nd tower. Exactly how terrible ...I scanned the camera the whole time the East Coastline to the south to find if I can observe any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, but nothing was visible.It was actually fairly complicated to deal with work after that, though our company possessed some to accomplish, yet on the following track our experts moved across the US more south. All three people were actually working a couple of cameras to make an effort to get scenery of New york city or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, yet no particular source can be viewed. All of it appeared astonishing from a couple of hundred miles away. I can't visualize the unfortunate settings on the ground.Besides the mental influence of our nation being attacked as well as countless our consumers as well as possibly some pals being actually eliminated, one of the most mind-boggling emotion being actually where I am is just one of solitude.Next time ... I guess the fatigue as well as psychological tension acquired the most effective of me. I could not remain awake and also remain to compose. Today was actually still difficult, yet our team began getting additional info, plus our company had the tribute of chatting straight with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who guaranteed our company that the ground crews will remain to function as well as ensure our safety and security, in addition to the risk-free operation of the Place. Our team likewise learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the Plan are all absolutely dedicated to proceeding risk-free functions and assistance. These were never concerns for me. I know all these individuals! The ground staffs have actually been actually extremely helpful, really understanding of the impact of the news, and also have tried to become as beneficial as feasible. They have all been very specialist and focused though I can not visualize the disturbance of the type of updates coming in and also the thought and feelings that government properties may be vulnerable. They certainly never avoided a beat, even when moving control centers. And also a team of senior employees and close friends offered our team a quite thorough instruction on what was actually known and what was actually being performed in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was incredibly beneficial and type of them to accomplish in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been encouraging as well as useful, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own properties were actually inoperable, and pointing out kind terms ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, also. They recognize it's been actually a difficult time for me and the people on the ground, as well as they've tried to be as even keeled and handy as possible. Michael also fixed me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. And they offer me plenty of room to assume when I required it. They are actually very considerate and also certainly shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I understand a lot of individuals in Washington, so many folks that travel to DC and also New York City, plenty of who are pilots, that I really felt sure I will obtain a minimum of a couple of items of bad news over the next couple of times. I received the very first one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I encountered Chic throughout plebe summer season when our experts were in the D&B with each other, as well as our company possessed considerable amounts of lessons together. I can't visualize what he should of undergone, as well as now I hear that he might have risen even more than our team may even think about by possibly stopping his airplane coming from being the one to deal with the White Residence. What a horrendous reduction, yet I'm sure Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. As well as rips don't circulate the exact same in space ...It is actually tough to explain just how it really feels to be the only American entirely off the earth each time like this. The emotion that I should exist along with all of you, handling this, assisting in some way, is overwhelming. I know that our experts perform the threshold (or even beyond) of a horrendous change in the history of the world. A lot of traits will definitely certainly never be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the thousands and thousands of folks directly affected through these hideous process of violence, but most likely for we all. We will locate ourselves experiencing differently regarding loads of factors, featuring perhaps area expedition, sadly.It is actually horrible to observe smoke putting from injuries in your personal country coming from such a wonderful vantage point. The duality of being on a space probe dedicated to boosting life on the planet and enjoying life being actually destroyed by such planned, terrible actions is jolting to the subconscious, no matter that you are. As well as the expertise that every thing will be different than when our experts released due to the time our experts land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our leadership that we will certainly carry out whatever feasible to far better protect her and our loved ones, and to bring compensation of what has been actually done. I possess assurance that the great folks at NASA will definitely carry out every thing needed to proceed our objective carefully and also return us safely and securely at the correct time. And also I skip each one of you quite. I can't exist with you personally, as well as our team possess a long way to head to finish our purpose, but be actually particular that my heart is with you, as well as understand you remain in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last letter ... Fortunately, it's been actually a busy full week up listed below. And also to verify that, like our country, our company are continuing our intended road with service as usual (as high as achievable). Tonight the current add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Area will definitely be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US time), it will certainly dock along with us, at a port certainly never made use of before on the low point side of the Company Component. This new element will definitely give our company one more spot to dock a Development or Soyuz and are going to offer a sizable airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our experts will definitely do a few of just before our experts get back.The concern prior to in handling this week was actually too little updates. The trouble right now is a lot of. It arrived at one time when email was recovered, and also there's inadequate opportunity to read it all! Plus it is actually as well hard to deal with all of it instantly. However I value receiving it, and also I really enjoy the wonderful letters of help and also companionship I am actually receiving.Our company are succeeding on board, getting our job carried out, as well as talking about traits. Final evening our company had a long discussion over dinner regarding the importance of these events, the achievable actions to observe, and what should be done. After dinner, Michael resolved telling me that every email he acquired from buddies in Russia mentioned exclusively to inform me how sorry they were that this taken place, extending their acknowledgements, and asking just how I was doing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar City. (Both the Russian and also the English words are considerably very long to pronounce simply.) Very type people.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transfer real-time broadcasts of radio updates regarding the event and affiliated stories, to make sure I was actually properly informed. Every professional that has actually come on the line to talk about a method or a concern has at some aspect expanded introductions to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that due to the big day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day individuals had been actually bringing blooms as well as edging all the wall surfaces of the US embassy in Moscow, and this night they were igniting candle lights in the road outside the embassy. How the world has actually transformed.Folks everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness and also horror in this attack. As well as the tremendous loss. Moscow has actually coped with these kind of issues in the last handful of years with flat as well as subway battles, so they are as distressed to do away with this risk as our experts are actually. Yet the bottom line is actually that there are really good individuals just about everywhere that want to reside in calmness. I check out that a child asked, "United States is actually thus good to various other nations, we regularly assist everyone, just how can they dislike our team a lot?".I hope the instance of cooperation and count on that this spacecraft and all people in the course show daily are going to one day inspire the rest of the globe to work the same way. They must!However, our experts won't be piloting over the US while folks are lighting candlesticks. Don't know if our company might find that anyway. Our company carried out, however, view a quite uncommon and also lovely attraction a few minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were overtaking it as well as it appeared regarding 3 moments after its launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our terminal, so it was actually still unaware. It appeared like a sizable comet with a straight, wide rear silhouetted against the dark earth under. Despite some negative lighting for a while as the sunlight hit our window at a reduced viewpoint, I handled some video clip of it as to begin with our team passed the spacecraft, and afterwards saw it start to catch up as it got height and also velocity. I recorded till principal motor cutoff and also booster separation happened equally our company came close to dawn on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in an extraordinary full week ...Life goes on, also precede. Our team're here to stay ... Frank.