.Editor's Note: The observing is actually the text of a letter coming from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reviewing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed significantly about specifics of this particular objective in the course of the month I have actually been listed below, generally for two factors: the very first being actually that there has actually been actually quite little bit of time to do that sort of creating, and also due to the fact that I am actually not sure just how comfortable I am discussing thought and feelings I share with friends and family with the remainder of the planet.Effectively, certainly the planet changed today. What I mention or even carry out is actually incredibly minor reviewed to the value of what took place to our nation today when it was attacked by ... through whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suppose. Hard to know at whom to point our temper as well as concern ...I had just finished a number of duties today, the absolute most time-consuming being the physical examinations of all workers participants. In a private talk complying with that, the air travel cosmetic surgeon informed me they were having a very bad time on the ground. I had no tip ...He explained the situation to me as greatest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was thrown for a loop, at that point horrified. My first notion was actually that this had not been a real talk, that I was still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It simply really did not seem achievable on this scale in our nation. I couldn't even think of the particulars, also prior to the news of further devastation started coming in.Vladimir came by rather swiftly, noticing that one thing incredibly serious was actually being actually reviewed. I swung Michael in to the element too. They were additionally blown away and also stunned. After our experts signed off, I tried to describe to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I can the prospective enormity of the act of terror in downtown New york and also at the Pentagon. They plainly recognized and also were very sympathetic.I browsed the Planet Map on the computer to view where over the world our experts were as well as noticed that we were coming southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be actually skipping New England in a couple of minutes. I whized around the station until I found a window that will provide me a view of New York City as well as snatched the nearby video camera. It happened to be a camera, and also I was appearing south coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to possess an odd bloom to it at the base of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After checking out some of the news articles our team merely acquired, I think our team were taking a look at NY around the time of, or even soon after, the collapse of the second high rise. Just how horrendous ...I swept the cam the whole time the East Coast to the south to view if I might observe some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was fairly tough to think about work afterwards, though our experts possessed some to accomplish, but on the following orbit our company moved across the US further south. All three of us were working 1 or 2 video cameras to make an effort to receive views of Nyc or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no certain source can be found. Everything looked fabulous coming from 2 to 3 hundred miles away. I can't think of the unfortunate settings on the ground.Besides the emotional impact of our nation being attacked and also 1000s of our people and also possibly some friends being gotten rid of, the most mind-boggling sensation being where I am actually is one of seclusion.Next day ... I presume the exhaustion as well as emotional strain obtained the most ideal of me. I could not stay awake and remain to write. Today was actually still difficult, however our experts started receiving additional information, plus our team possessed the tribute of chatting straight with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our company that the ground teams would remain to function and also guarantee our safety and security, in addition to the safe procedure of the Station. We additionally spoke with our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that included that the companions in the Course are all entirely dedicated to proceeding risk-free operations as well as assistance. These were certainly never concerns for me. I know all these individuals! The ground groups have been unbelievably supporting, very understanding of the effect of the headlines, as well as have attempted to be as beneficial as feasible. They have actually all been actually quite professional as well as focused though I can't imagine the interruption of this particular kind of headlines coming in and also the notion that authorities structures might be vulnerable. They never avoided a beat, even when relocating nerve center. And also a group of senior workers as well as buddies offered our company a quite complete rundown on what was known and also what was being done in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually incredibly valuable as well as kind of all of them to carry out in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been actually encouraging and useful, attempting to uplink news articles when our very own resources were inoperable, and saying kind words ...My crewmates have been excellent, too. They understand it's been a difficult day for me as well as the people on the ground, and they have actually attempted to be as even keeled as well as practical as feasible. Michael also repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. And also they give me plenty of room to assume when I needed it. They are really considerate as well as certainly outraged at whoever would certainly perform this.I understand a lot of people in Washington, a lot of folks who journey to DC and New York City, plenty of that are pilots, that I felt sure I would receive at least a handful of parts of problem 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 classmate of mine. I came across Chic during the course of plebe summertime when we remained in the D&B all together, as well as our team had lots of courses together. I can't picture what he has to of gone through, and currently I listen to that he might possess climbed better than our team may also think of through potentially preventing his plane from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a terrible reduction, however I make sure Chic was actually dealing with fearlessly to the end. And also rips do not stream the same precede ...It's difficult to explain just how it really feels to become the only United States fully off the world at a time like this. The sensation that I must exist along with each one of you, coping with this, helping somehow, is actually frustrating. I know that we perform the threshold (or past) of a horrible switch in the background of the globe. Many factors will certainly certainly never coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the thousands as well as lots of folks directly had an effect on by these horrendous process of terrorism, yet possibly for everyone. Our experts will find our own selves really feeling in a different way concerning loads of traits, featuring probably space exploration, however.It is actually unpleasant to observe smoke putting coming from wounds in your own country from such a great point of view. The duality of performing a space probe devoted to improving everyday life on the earth and viewing life being actually damaged by such unforced, horrendous process is jolting to the psyche, regardless of who you are. As well as the knowledge that every thing will definitely be various than when our experts released by the time our experts land is a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our management that our experts will certainly perform everything possible to far better guard her as well as our families, as well as to deliver justice wherefore has actually been performed. I have assurance that the good folks at NASA will definitely perform everything needed to proceed our mission safely and securely and return our team securely at the right time. And also I overlook each of you very much. I can not exist with you in person, and our company possess a long way to go to accomplish our objective, yet be particular that my center is with you, and understand you are in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final character ... Fortunately, it's been actually an active week up right here. And also to verify that, like our country, our team are actually continuing our desired pathway along with company as usual (as high as possible). Tonight the most recent add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber are going to be actually released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States opportunity), it will definitely dock with our company, at a slot never made use of before on the low point side of the Service Module. This brand new component will certainly give our team yet another area to dock a Development or even Soyuz as well as will offer a sizable airlock along with two able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our team will definitely carry out a few of before we get back.The issue prior to in coping with this week was insufficient news. The complication today is actually too much. It came all at once when email was brought back, and there's not enough opportunity to read everything! Plus it is actually as well tough to take care of all of it simultaneously. But I cherish getting it, and I truly enjoy the terrific characters of assistance and also relationship I am actually obtaining.Our team are doing well on board, acquiring our job performed, and also referring to traits. Last night our experts possessed a long conversation over supper about the significance of these activities, the achievable activities to observe, as well as what should be done. After dinner, Michael challenged telling me that every email he obtained from buddies in Russia stated primarily to tell me how regretful they were actually that this taken place, prolonging their condolences, as well as inquiring exactly how I was carrying out. Vladimir taught me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are a lot extremely lengthy to articulate easily.) Very kind people.For the final pair of days, the Russian MCC has been good enough to transmit live broadcasts of radio headlines about the occasion and linked tales, to be sure I was actually properly educated. Every expert that has come on the line to review a method or a trouble contends some point prolonged greetings to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that as a result of the special day of recognition in the US, all day folks had actually been actually bringing blooms as well as edging all the wall structures of the United States embassy in Moscow, and also this evening they were actually lighting candlesticks in the street outside the consular office. Exactly how the world has altered.People almost everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness as well as horror within this attack. And also the incredible reduction. Moscow has dealt with these type of troubles in the last few years with flat as well as train battles, so they are actually as nervous to do away with this danger as we are actually. However the bottom collection is that there are great individuals anywhere that want to stay in peace. I read through that a kid talked to, "The United States is actually thus great to other countries, our experts always aid everyone, exactly how can they detest us a great deal?".I really hope the instance of participation as well as trust fund that this spacecraft and all people in the course show daily will at some point motivate the rest of the planet to work the same way. They must!Regrettably, our company will not be actually flying over the United States while individuals are igniting candlesticks. Don't understand if our experts might view that anyway. Our company did, having said that, view an incredibly unique and gorgeous sight a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. Our company were overtaking it and also it emerged concerning three moments after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our station, so it was still in the dark. It looked like a big comet with a directly, wide tail silhouetted against the dark planet under. In spite of some poor illumination for a while as the sunshine hit our window at a reduced position, I handled some video clip of it as to begin with our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that saw it begin to mesmerize as it obtained altitude and speed. I shot up until major motor deadline and also booster separation happened equally our experts moved toward sunup on the Mountain ranges. A memorable sight in a remarkable full week ...Life happens, also precede. Our experts are actually below to remain ... Frank.