.Editor's Keep in mind: The following is the text of a letter from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reviewing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written quite about specifics of this objective in the course of the month I have actually been listed below, primarily for pair of factors: the first being that there has actually been really little bit of opportunity to perform that kind of composing, and also secondly since I'm uncertain exactly how comfortable I am actually discussing thought and feelings I show to family and friends with the remainder of the world.Properly, certainly the planet changed today. What I claim or carry out is actually quite slight matched up to the implication of what took place to our country today when it was struck by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I suppose. Challenging to know at whom to direct our rage as well as worry ...I had simply ended up a lot of activities this morning, one of the most time-consuming being the physical examinations of all team members. In an exclusive conversation complying with that, the flight surgeon informed me they were possessing a very poor day on the ground. I had no concept ...He described the situation to me as best he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually shocked, at that point horrified. My first idea was that this had not been a true chat, that I was still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It only didn't seem possible on this incrustation in our nation. I could not also picture the particulars, also just before the information of additional damage started coming in.Vladimir visited fairly swiftly, noticing that one thing really severe was being discussed. I swayed Michael in to the element at the same time. They were actually additionally blown away and stunned. After our experts authorized off, I attempted to describe to Vladimir and Michael as ideal I could possibly the prospective size of this show of horror in downtown New york and also at the Government. They precisely comprehended and also were actually incredibly understanding.I eyed the Globe Chart on the computer system to view where over the globe we were and also observed that we were happening southeast away from Canada as well as would be actually passing over New England in a few minutes. I whized around the station until I found a home window that would certainly offer me a perspective of New York City and nabbed the local camera. It happened to be a camera, and I was appearing south coming from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess an odd blossom to it at the base of the column that was actually streaming south of the area. After reading among the news articles our company just got, I believe our team were taking a look at NY around the amount of time of, or even quickly after, the crash of the 2nd tower. How horrendous ...I scanned the electronic camera during the East Shoreline to the south to find if I can find some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, but nothing at all was visible.It was pretty complicated to think of work afterwards, though we had some to perform, yet on the next track our team moved across the US further south. All 3 people were working one or two cams to try to receive views of New York or even Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no details source may be viewed. It all looked amazing coming from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can't imagine the awful settings on the ground.Other than the psychological influence of our country being actually attacked as well as countless our consumers and also possibly some buddies being killed, the most overwhelming feeling being actually where I am actually is among solitude.Next day ... I guess the exhaustion and mental pressure got the very best of me. I couldn't keep awake and also continue to create. Today was still challenging, but we started obtaining even more information, plus our experts had the respect of chatting straight along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who assured our company that the ground groups will continue to function as well as ensure our safety, along with the secure procedure of the Station. Our company also learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the companions in the System are all absolutely committed to carrying on safe functions and also support. These were actually certainly never questions for me. I understand all these individuals! The ground groups have been actually surprisingly supportive, quite understanding of the effect of the headlines, as well as have actually tried to be as helpful as achievable. They have all been actually very qualified and also concentrated though I can not envision the distraction of the sort of headlines coming in and the thought and feelings that government structures might be in jeopardy. They never ever avoided a beat, even when transferring control centers. And also a team of senior employees and good friends provided us a fairly complete rundown on what was understood and what was actually being actually performed in the government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was very beneficial and also kind of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has also been actually helpful and also practical, trying to uplink newspaper article when our own assets were inoperable, as well as claiming kind words ...My crewmates have been terrific, also. They understand it is actually been actually a tough time for me as well as the folks on the ground, as well as they have actually attempted to become as also keeled as well as useful as possible. Michael also fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. As well as they give me a lot of area to think when I required it. They are very supportive and obviously outraged at whoever would certainly do this.I understand plenty of individuals in Washington, many folks that journey to DC and New York City, plenty of that are pilots, that I felt certain I would receive at least a few items of problem over the next couple of times. I obtained the 1st one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that reached the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I met Chic during the course of plebe summertime when our team resided in the D&B together, and also our company had bunches of lessons with each other. I can't envision what he has to of gone through, and also now I listen to that he might have risen even further than our experts may also consider through perhaps avoiding his plane from being actually the one to tackle the White House. What a horrible loss, however I ensure Chic was actually combating bravely throughout. And also splits don't stream the exact same precede ...It's hard to describe how it experiences to become the only United States fully off the world at a time including this. The feeling that I need to be there with each of you, coping with this, assisting in some way, is frustrating. I know that our company perform the limit (or past) of a horrendous switch in the past of the world. Many traits will definitely never coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the thousands and countless folks directly had an effect on by these hideous acts of terrorism, however most likely for everybody. Our company are going to find our own selves really feeling in different ways concerning dozens of factors, including possibly space expedition, regrettably.It is actually unpleasant to find smoke putting coming from injuries in your personal nation coming from such a great perspective. The duality of getting on a space capsule dedicated to enhancing daily life on the earth and checking out lifestyle being destroyed through such purposeful, horrendous acts is jolting to the subconscious, no matter who you are. And the knowledge that everything are going to be various than when our team released due to the opportunity we land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country as well as in our leadership that our experts will definitely carry out everything feasible to far better safeguard her as well as our households, and also to carry compensation of what has actually been carried out. I possess self-confidence that the good people at NASA will perform everything needed to continue our purpose carefully as well as return our company carefully at the right time. As well as I skip each one of you significantly. I can't be there with you personally, and also we have a very long way to visit accomplish our purpose, yet be actually particular that my heart is actually with you, and also recognize you reside in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... The good news is, it is actually been a hectic week up below. And to verify that, like our nation, our team are advancing our planned pathway along with service customarily (as long as feasible). Tonight the latest add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Area will certainly be actually released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (United States time), it is going to dock with us, at a slot never utilized before on the low point edge of the Solution Element. This brand-new module will definitely offer us yet another spot to dock a Progress or even Soyuz as well as will certainly supply a large airlock along with pair of able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which our company will definitely carry out a few of just before we come home.The issue prior to in managing this week was actually too little news. The issue right now is actually too much. It arrived at one time when e-mail was actually brought back, and there's inadequate time to read it all! Plus it is actually also challenging to manage all of it at the same time. Yet I enjoy acquiring it, and also I truly enjoy the great letters of assistance and also relationship I am getting.Our company are actually prospering on board, obtaining our job done, as well as talking about things. Last evening our company had a lengthy dialogue over dinner regarding the significance of these activities, the feasible actions to follow, as well as what must be actually performed. After supper, Michael made a point of informing me that every email he obtained coming from close friends in Russia said specifically to tell me exactly how sorry they were actually that this occurred, expanding their acknowledgements, as well as asking just how I was doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star City. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are much too long to verbalize effortlessly.) Extremely types individuals.For the last 2 times, the Russian MCC has been good enough to transmit real-time broadcasts of broadcast news concerning the event as well as associated tales, to make sure I was effectively notified. Every professional who has come on the line to discuss a method or even a concern has at some aspect prolonged greetings to me with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that because of the wedding day of remembrance in the United States, all the time individuals had actually been actually delivering flowers as well as edging all the walls of the US consular office in Moscow, and also this night they were actually lighting candlesticks in the street outside the embassy. Just how the globe has transformed.Individuals just about everywhere appear to acknowledge the senselessness as well as terror in this attack. And also the significant reduction. Moscow has dealt with these type of concerns in the final couple of years along with flat and also subway bombings, so they are actually as anxious to eliminate this risk as we are. However all-time low line is actually that there are actually excellent folks just about everywhere who desire to reside in tranquility. I check out that a little one asked, "The United States is actually so excellent to other nations, our company constantly aid everybody, how can they hate our company a great deal?".I hope the instance of cooperation as well as depend on that this spacecraft plus all individuals in the program show daily will one day encourage the rest of the world to operate the same way. They must!Unfortunately, we will not be flying over the United States during the time individuals are actually lighting candlesticks. Do not understand if we could observe that in any case. Our company carried out, however, observe a quite unusual and attractive view a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. We were actually surpassing it and it appeared regarding 3 mins after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sun attacked our station, so it was actually still at night. It looked like a large comet along with a directly, large rear silhouetted against the dark world beneath. Despite some poor illumination for some time as the sunlight hit our window at a low perspective, I managed some video recording of it as first we passed the rocket, and after that viewed it begin to mesmerize as it obtained elevation and also velocity. I shot up until primary motor cutoff and enhancer separation took place equally our experts moved toward sunrise on the Mountain ranges. A memorable sight in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle happens, even in space. Our experts are actually listed below to remain ... Frank.