.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is the content of a character coming from Exploration 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), assessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed very much regarding specifics of the mission during the month I have actually been right here, mainly for two reasons: the 1st being that there has actually been extremely little opportunity to carry out that type of creating, and the second thing is because I'm uncertain how relaxed I am sharing notions I share with friends and family along with the rest of the world.Effectively, undoubtedly the planet transformed today. What I say or even do is extremely small compared to the value of what took place to our nation today when it was attacked by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we know, I think. Difficult to know at whom to point our rage as well as worry ...I had merely ended up a number of tasks today, the absolute most lengthy being actually the physical examinations of all team participants. In an exclusive conversation adhering to that, the air travel surgeon informed me they were having an incredibly bad day on the ground. I possessed no suggestion ...He explained the circumstance to me as absolute best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was made speechless, then terrified. My initial thought and feelings was that this had not been an actual chat, that I was actually still listening to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It just really did not seem to be feasible on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't also think of the details, even before the headlines of more devastation began being available in.Vladimir came by quite rapidly, sensing that one thing quite serious was being covered. I swayed Michael into the module also. They were actually also astounded and also stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to explain to Vladimir and Michael as best I could the possible magnitude of this particular act of horror in downtown New york and at the Government. They clearly recognized and also were actually very understanding.I eyed the World Map on the computer system to see where over the globe we were and observed that our experts were actually coming southeast out of Canada as well as would be actually skipping New England in a handful of mins. I zoomed around the station up until I found a window that would offer me a view of New York City and also grabbed the local cam. It occurred to become a video camera, and I was actually appearing south coming from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke seemed to have a weird flower to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the area. After reviewing one of the newspaper article our experts just received, I feel our company were examining NY around the amount of time of, or even shortly after, the failure of the 2nd high rise. How unpleasant ...I swept the electronic camera during the East Coast to the south to find if I can see some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet nothing at all showed up.It was actually pretty difficult to think about work afterwards, though we possessed some to carry out, however on the following track our team went across the United States further south. All three of us were operating one or two video cameras to attempt to get viewpoints of Nyc or Washington. There was haze over Washington, however no details source may be found. Everything appeared amazing from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not picture the tragic scenes on the ground.Besides the emotional impact of our nation being actually attacked as well as hundreds of our citizens and also possibly some pals being gotten rid of, the most difficult sensation being where I am actually is among seclusion.Upcoming day ... I think the fatigue and also mental tension got the very best of me. I could not remain awake and also remain to compose. Today was actually still challenging, but our team began getting more relevant information, plus our experts possessed the tribute of talking directly along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who guaranteed us that the ground staffs would continue to function as well as ensure our safety, as well as the safe function of the Place. Our company likewise heard from our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Plan are actually all completely committed to carrying on risk-free operations and also assistance. These were certainly never questions for me. I recognize all these people! The ground staffs have been actually extremely supporting, really understanding of the effect of the headlines, and have made an effort to become as valuable as feasible. They have all been actually very professional as well as centered though I can not think of the diversion of this particular type of headlines coming in as well as the thought and feelings that government buildings could be in jeopardy. They never ever skipped a beat, also when transferring control centers. And a group of senior staffs and pals offered our team a fairly comprehensive rundown on what was understood as well as what was actually being actually carried out in the federal government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually incredibly handy and also sort of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has also been actually supportive as well as handy, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our own resources were inoperable, as well as mentioning kind phrases ...My crewmates have been actually fantastic, also. They recognize it's been actually a challenging day for me as well as the folks on the ground, and they've made an effort to be as even keeled and also valuable as achievable. Michael also corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. As well as they provide me plenty of area to believe when I needed it. They are actually really compassionate and certainly outraged at whoever would certainly do this.I understand plenty of folks in Washington, plenty of folks who take a trip to DC and NYC, numerous that are actually flies, that I experienced sure I would certainly get a minimum of a few parts of problem over the next couple of days. I obtained the first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that reached the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic during plebe summer season when our experts resided in the D&B together, and also we possessed considerable amounts of training class with each other. I can not envision what he has to of gone through, and now I listen to that he may possess risen further than our team can easily even think about through probably preventing his plane from being the one to deal with the White Residence. What a dreadful loss, however I make sure Chic was actually dealing with fearlessly to the end. And rips do not flow the same in space ...It is actually challenging to illustrate just how it really feels to be the only United States completely off the planet at once including this. The feeling that I must be there with every one of you, taking care of this, aiding in some way, is actually overwhelming. I understand that our team get on the limit (or beyond) of a horrible change in the history of the globe. Many things will certainly never coincide again after September 11, 2001. Not only for the manies thousand as well as countless people directly affected by these horrendous actions of violence, however probably for everybody. Our experts are going to find our own selves really feeling differently concerning dozens of factors, featuring probably area exploration, regrettably.It is actually terrible to find smoke pouring from cuts in your own country from such a fantastic point of view. The duality of being on a space probe committed to strengthening daily life on the planet as well as viewing life being actually damaged through such planned, horrendous acts is actually jolting to the psyche, despite who you are. As well as the understanding that every little thing will certainly be actually different than when our experts introduced by the time our team land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and also in our management that our company will perform whatever possible to much better defend her and also our households, as well as to bring fair treatment wherefore has actually been performed. I have confidence that the excellent people at NASA will perform whatever essential to proceed our goal securely and return our company properly at the right time. And I overlook each of you very much. I can not be there with you in person, as well as we have a long way to visit finish our objective, but be actually particular that my soul is actually along with you, as well as understand you remain in my prayers.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last letter ... The good news is, it is actually been actually a busy full week up listed here. As well as to confirm that, like our country, our team are actually advancing our planned road along with organization as usual (as high as possible). Tonight the latest addition to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States opportunity), it will definitely dock with our company, at a port never ever made use of just before on the nadir side of the Solution Element. This new module will definitely give our team an additional area to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and will give a huge airlock with two able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which we will certainly perform a few of before we return.The issue just before in coping with recently was actually inadequate news. The trouble now is too much. It came simultaneously when email was actually recovered, and also there is actually not nearly enough time to read it all! Plus it is actually too challenging to cope with all of it at the same time. Yet I appreciate getting it, and I actually enjoy the terrific letters of assistance and relationship I am getting.Our company are doing well on board, acquiring our job carried out, as well as discussing things. Last evening we had a long dialogue over supper regarding the value of these activities, the feasible actions to observe, and what must be done. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every e-mail he received from buddies in Russia stated especially to inform me exactly how sorry they were that this taken place, prolonging their condolences, and also inquiring exactly how I was doing. Vladimir educated me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Area. (Both the Russian and also the English phrases are considerably too long to pronounce conveniently.) Incredibly kind folks.For the final two times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to send real-time broadcasts of broadcast headlines concerning the occasion and also associated accounts, to see to it I was actually properly updated. Every professional who has actually come on the line to go over a technique or even a concern contends some aspect stretched greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that due to the wedding day of recognition in the US, all the time folks had been actually taking blooms and also lining all the walls of the US consulate in Moscow, as well as this night they were actually lighting candlesticks in the road outside the embassy. Exactly how the globe has actually transformed.People almost everywhere appear to recognize the senselessness and horror within this strike. And the significant reduction. Moscow has dealt with these kind of concerns in the last few years with flat and train bombings, so they are actually as nervous to eliminate this danger as our company are. But the bottom collection is that there are excellent individuals anywhere who wish to live in tranquility. I read through that a child talked to, "America is thus excellent to other nations, we consistently aid everybody, how can they loathe our team a great deal?".I wish the example of collaboration and rely on that this space capsule plus all the people in the system display daily will someday inspire the remainder of the globe to function similarly. They must!Unfortunately, we won't be piloting over the US while individuals are igniting candles. Don't know if our company might find that anyhow. Our company carried out, nonetheless, see a quite unusual as well as attractive view a handful of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. Our company were actually overtaking it and it emerged regarding 3 minutes after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight struck our station, so it was actually still at night. It resembled a large comet with a directly, wide tail silhouetted versus the darker earth underneath. In spite of some poor lights for a while as the sunshine hit our window at a reduced viewpoint, I handled some online video of it as to begin with our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that saw it start to mesmerize as it got height and speed. I shot till principal engine cutoff and booster splitting up occurred just as we came close to sunrise on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable attraction in a remarkable full week ...Lifestyle takes place, even precede. Our team're here to stay ... Frank.