.Publisher's Details: The complying with is actually the text message of a letter coming from Exploration 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), assessing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed quite concerning specifics of this particular objective during the course of the month I've been right here, primarily for 2 explanations: the 1st being that there has been quite little bit of time to carry out that kind of writing, and also furthermore, because I am actually not exactly sure exactly how relaxed I am actually discussing thoughts I provide friends and family along with the remainder of the world.Properly, clearly the planet altered today. What I mention or even do is actually extremely slight matched up to the significance of what occurred to our country today when it was struck through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I think. Difficult to recognize at whom to route our rage as well as concern ...I had simply ended up a variety of tasks this morning, the absolute most lengthy being the physical exams of all team members. In a personal chat adhering to that, the air travel specialist told me they were having a very negative day on the ground. I had no concept ...He explained the situation to me as finest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually dumbfounded, at that point horrified. My first idea was actually that this had not been a genuine chat, that I was actually still listening to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to appear feasible on this incrustation in our country. I could not also imagine the particulars, also before the news of further damage started being available in.Vladimir dropped in pretty rapidly, picking up that something extremely severe was being reviewed. I swung Michael in to the module at the same time. They were likewise impressed and also stunned. After we signed off, I attempted to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as best I can the potential size of this show of horror in downtown Manhattan and at the Government. They clearly knew and also were extremely sympathetic.I eyed the World Map on the pc to see where over the planet our team were as well as observed that our experts were actually happening southeast out of Canada as well as would be skipping New England in a handful of moments. I whized around the station until I located a home window that will provide me a sight of NYC and also got hold of the closest camera. It took place to become a video camera, as well as I was actually appearing southern coming from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to have a weird blossom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the area. After checking out one of the newspaper article our company merely got, I think our company were examining NY around the moment of, or not long after, the crash of the 2nd high rise. How horrible ...I swept the video camera during the East Shoreline to the south to find if I could possibly observe any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing was visible.It was quite tough to deal with job afterwards, though our team had some to carry out, yet on the upcoming orbit our team traversed the United States additional southern. All three people were functioning one or two cams to try to obtain views of The big apple or Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no details source can be found. Everything looked awesome coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can't imagine the terrible settings on the ground.Other than the emotional effect of our country being attacked and also hundreds of our people and maybe some pals being actually killed, the most difficult feeling being actually where I am is just one of seclusion.Upcoming time ... I reckon the fatigue and mental stress received the most effective of me. I could not keep awake and continue to write. Today was actually still complicated, but our company started acquiring more details, plus we had the tribute of chatting directly with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who ensured us that the ground teams would continue to function and guarantee our security, in addition to the safe function of the Station. Our company also learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the System are actually all entirely committed to carrying on safe operations and support. These were certainly never inquiries for me. I know all these people! The ground crews have actually been actually astonishingly supporting, extremely understanding of the influence of the updates, as well as have actually attempted to become as handy as possible. They have all been actually extremely expert and concentrated though I can not envision the disturbance of the form of news can be found in as well as the idea that authorities buildings might be in jeopardy. They certainly never bypassed a beat, even when transferring nerve center. And a team of senior workers and good friends provided us a pretty in depth rundown about what was actually known as well as what was being carried out in the government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was extremely helpful and kind of all of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been actually supportive and also beneficial, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our own resources were actually unusable, and also mentioning kind terms ...My crewmates have been excellent, as well. They recognize it's been actually a challenging time for me and also the people on the ground, as well as they have actually made an effort to become as also keeled and helpful as possible. Michael also corrected me my beloved Borscht soup for dinner. And also they give me plenty of area to believe when I needed it. They are quite supportive and of course shocked at whoever will perform this.I know many people in Washington, so many individuals that journey to DC and NYC, numerous that are captains, that I really felt sure I would acquire a minimum of a few items of problem over the next handful of days. I received the initial one today when I discovered that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that reached the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I found Chic during the course of plebe summer months when we were in the D&B all together, and also our experts possessed lots of training class all together. I can not envision what he should of looked at, and now I hear that he may possess increased additionally than our experts may also think of through probably preventing his aircraft coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Home. What a dreadful loss, but I'm sure Chic was actually combating fearlessly to the end. As well as tears do not stream the exact same in space ...It is actually challenging to describe exactly how it experiences to become the only American totally off the planet at a time like this. The sensation that I need to be there with each of you, coping with this, assisting somehow, is overwhelming. I understand that our experts perform the limit (or beyond) of a terrible switch in the history of the globe. A lot of points will certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the 1000s and also thousands of folks straight impacted by these hideous process of violence, but probably for all of us. We will locate our own selves really feeling differently about dozens of points, featuring probably area exploration, unfortunately.It's terrible to see smoke cigarettes pouring coming from cuts in your own nation coming from such an amazing viewpoint. The dichotomy of performing a space probe dedicated to improving everyday life on the planet and enjoying life being damaged through such intentional, horrible acts is jolting to the subconscious, regardless of that you are. And also the expertise that every little thing will certainly be actually various than when we launched due to the opportunity our experts land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our management that our team will definitely perform every little thing feasible to far better shield her and our family members, and also to take justice wherefore has actually been done. I possess assurance that the excellent folks at NASA will definitely carry out whatever needed to proceed our objective properly and return our team safely and securely at the right time. And also I overlook each of you very much. I can not be there along with you in person, and also our experts have a very long way to head to accomplish our objective, yet be actually certain that my center is along with you, and recognize you are in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... Luckily, it's been an occupied week up listed here. And to verify that, like our country, we are actually continuing our designated road along with business customarily (as long as feasible). Tonight the latest enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will definitely be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States opportunity), it will certainly dock along with us, at a slot never utilized just before on the nadir edge of the Company Element. This brand-new element will definitely offer us one more spot to dock a Progression or Soyuz and are going to deliver a sizable airlock along with two useable hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which we will certainly carry out a few of before we return.The complication just before in taking care of today was insufficient news. The issue today is a lot of. It arrived simultaneously when e-mail was actually rejuvenated, as well as there is actually insufficient time to read all of it! Plus it's also challenging to deal with all of it at once. Yet I value getting it, as well as I really value the terrific letters of support as well as friendship I am actually receiving.Our experts are flourishing on board, acquiring our work done, and speaking about things. Final night our experts possessed a long conversation over dinner regarding the implication of these events, the feasible activities to comply with, as well as what must be done. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every email he received from close friends in Russia stated exclusively to inform me exactly how regretful they were that this occurred, prolonging their acknowledgements, and asking how I was doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually considerably extremely lengthy to verbalize easily.) Really types folks.For the last 2 days, the Russian MCC has been good enough to send online broadcasts of broadcast information regarding the celebration and associated stories, to be sure I was actually effectively informed. Every professional who has actually come on free throw line to review an operation or even a concern contends some factor extended hellos to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that due to the wedding day of remembrance in the US, throughout the day people had been delivering blossoms and edging all the wall structures of the United States consulate in Moscow, as well as this night they were actually lighting candles in the street outside the embassy. Exactly how the globe has actually altered.People everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness and also scary in this assault. And also the incredible reduction. Moscow has actually managed these type of problems in the final few years along with apartment and also train battles, so they are as nervous to eliminate this risk as our team are. Yet the bottom line is actually that there are good individuals just about everywhere that desire to live in tranquility. I read that a child inquired, "America is so really good to various other nations, our company regularly help every person, exactly how can they despise our team a lot?".I hope the instance of collaboration and also rely on that this space capsule and all the people in the plan demonstrate daily will sooner or later encourage the remainder of the planet to function the same way. They must!Sadly, our team will not be actually flighting over the US during the time individuals are actually igniting candles. Do not understand if our team might find that anyway. Our team carried out, nevertheless, see a very uncommon and also wonderful attraction a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were actually surpassing it and it emerged concerning three mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It looked like a big comet along with a right, large tail silhouetted against the black earth under. Even with some poor lighting fixtures for some time as the sunlight struck our home window at a reduced perspective, I took care of some video of it as to begin with our company passed the rocket, and then viewed it begin to mesmerize as it gained altitude and also rate. I recorded up until primary engine deadline and enhancer splitting up happened equally as we moved toward sunup on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable view in an unforgettable full week ...Lifestyle goes on, even in space. Our team are actually here to remain ... Frank.