.Publisher's Keep in mind: The observing is actually the content of a character coming from Exploration 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reassessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created very much about specifics of the objective during the month I have actually been below, mainly for two factors: the first being actually that there has actually been extremely little bit of opportunity to carry out that type of writing, and second of all since I am actually not exactly sure just how pleasant I am actually sharing ideas I show friends and family with the remainder of the planet.Properly, obviously the planet transformed today. What I claim or perform is actually very small contrasted to the value of what happened to our country today when it was actually struck by ... by whom? Terrorists is actually all we understand, I think. Hard to recognize at whom to point our temper and also worry ...I had actually merely ended up a variety of duties this morning, one of the most lengthy being actually the physical examinations of all staff participants. In a personal conversation observing that, the flight cosmetic surgeon informed me they were having a really bad time on the ground. I had no concept ...He defined the scenario to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually made speechless, then horrified. My initial thought was that this wasn't an actual chat, that I was actually still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It only really did not seem achievable on this scale in our country. I could not even think of the particulars, even just before the news of additional damage started can be found in.Vladimir came fairly swiftly, picking up that one thing very major was actually being actually gone over. I swung Michael into the element also. They were likewise blown away and also stunned. After our experts authorized off, I attempted to explain to Vladimir and also Michael as greatest I could the possible immensity of this particular show of fear in downtown New york and also at the Government. They precisely comprehended and also were actually quite sympathetic.I eyed the Planet Map on the computer system to find where over the planet we were actually and also noticed that we were happening southeast away from Canada and also would be actually overlooking New England in a couple of moments. I zipped around the terminal till I located a home window that would certainly give me a view of NYC and also got the local cam. It happened to be a video camera, as well as I was looking south from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to possess a strange blossom to it at the foundation of the pillar that was streaming south of the city. After reading some of the newspaper article our experts only got, I think we were examining NY around the time of, or even quickly after, the crash of the second tower. How terrible ...I swept the video camera during the East Coast to the south to see if I could find any other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was pretty complicated to consider job after that, though we had some to carry out, however on the next track we crossed the United States additional south. All three of us were working 1 or 2 cams to make an effort to acquire perspectives of New York or Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no particular resource might be observed. It all looked extraordinary from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not picture the heartbreaking settings on the ground.Besides the psychological influence of our nation being tackled and thousands of our residents and also maybe some buddies being actually killed, the most difficult sensation being actually where I am actually is among seclusion.Following time ... I think the fatigue and also psychological pressure got the most effective of me. I couldn't stay awake as well as continue to write. Today was actually still difficult, but our experts started obtaining additional information, plus we had the respect of speaking straight with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that assured us that the ground crews would certainly remain to function as well as ensure our security, as well as the secure function of the Place. Our experts likewise spoke with our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who included that the partners in the System are all entirely dedicated to carrying on safe functions as well as support. These were never questions for me. I know all these people! The ground crews have been exceptionally encouraging, really understanding of the impact of the news, and also have actually made an effort to be as valuable as possible. They have actually all been actually quite specialist and concentrated though I can not visualize the disturbance of this kind of information coming in and also the thought that authorities properties may be at risk. They never missed a beat, even when transferring control centers. And a team of elderly personnel and also good friends provided our team a quite extensive rundown about what was known as well as what was actually being actually performed in the authorities and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually incredibly helpful and also sort of all of them to carry out in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually supportive and helpful, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own resources were unusable, and also claiming kind words ...My crewmates have actually been fantastic, as well. They know it's been actually a challenging time for me and the folks on the ground, as well as they've tried to become as also keeled and useful as possible. Michael even repaired me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. And also they give me loads of room to presume when I required it. They are actually quite thoughtful and naturally shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I recognize so many folks in Washington, so many individuals that take a trip to DC and also NYC, so many who are captains, that I felt sure I would receive a minimum of a handful of parts of bad news over the next few times. I acquired the initial one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that hit the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic during the course of cadet summer when our experts resided in the D&B together, and also our company possessed great deals of lessons together. I can not envision what he must of gone through, as well as now I hear that he may possess increased better than our experts can even think about through potentially stopping his airplane from being the one to deal with the White Property. What a terrible reduction, but I'm sure Chic was actually battling fearlessly to the end. As well as splits don't circulate the very same precede ...It is actually difficult to illustrate just how it experiences to be the only American fully off the planet at a time like this. The feeling that I must be there with each one of you, dealing with this, assisting somehow, is actually mind-boggling. I know that we perform the threshold (or past) of a horrendous switch in the past of the globe. Numerous points will definitely never ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not just for the manies thousand as well as lots of individuals straight impacted by these horrible actions of violence, yet most likely for everyone. Our experts are going to locate ourselves experiencing differently about dozens of points, featuring perhaps space exploration, however.It is actually horrendous to observe smoke cigarettes putting from wounds in your personal nation coming from such a wonderful vantage point. The duality of being on a spacecraft committed to strengthening live on the earth and also enjoying life being actually damaged by such witting, terrible actions is jolting to the psyche, despite who you are. As well as the understanding that every little thing will definitely be actually various than when our experts released due to the opportunity our company land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our nation and also in our leadership that our experts are going to perform whatever possible to better shield her and our loved ones, and also to bring fair treatment for what has been actually done. I possess self-confidence that the great people at NASA are going to carry out every thing required to continue our goal safely as well as return us carefully at the correct time. And also I skip each of you quite. I can not be there with you face to face, and also our experts have a very long way to visit complete our objective, but be particular that my heart is with you, and know you reside in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... The good news is, it's been actually an occupied full week up listed below. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, our company are actually continuing on our intended path with service customarily (as much as feasible). Tonight the most up to date addition to the station, the Russian Docking Area are going to be actually introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US opportunity), it will definitely dock with our team, at a slot never used prior to on the low point side of the Solution Element. This brand-new element will give our company an additional area to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and will give a huge airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which our company will carry out a few of just before our company return.The complication prior to in coping with recently was inadequate news. The problem today is way too much. It came at one time when e-mail was rejuvenated, and there's insufficient time to read it all! Plus it is actually as well difficult to deal with all of it simultaneously. However I appreciate getting it, as well as I truly value the wonderful letters of support as well as companionship I am obtaining.Our experts are actually succeeding on board, getting our job carried out, and also talking about traits. Final night we had a long discussion over supper about the implication of these celebrations, the possible actions to observe, as well as what ought to be performed. After dinner, Michael made a point of informing me that every email he received coming from pals in Russia stated specifically to inform me how sorry they were that this taken place, prolonging their condolences, and talking to how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir instructed me the Russian term for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar City. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually a lot extremely lengthy to verbalize conveniently.) Really types individuals.For the last two days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit live programs of broadcast headlines regarding the celebration as well as connected accounts, to be sure I was actually effectively informed. Every expert that has actually come on free throw line to cover a procedure or even an issue has at some aspect extended introductions to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that due to the wedding of remembrance in the US, throughout the day people had actually been carrying blooms and also edging all the wall surfaces of the United States embassy in Moscow, as well as this evening they were lighting candles in the road outside the embassy. Just how the globe has transformed.People anywhere seem to realize the senselessness and also terror in this particular strike. And the significant loss. Moscow has handled these type of concerns in the final few years along with condo as well as train bombings, so they are actually as nervous to get rid of this risk as our company are actually. Yet the bottom collection is that there are actually excellent folks just about everywhere that intend to stay in calmness. I go through that a child asked, "America is therefore excellent to other countries, our experts consistently help everybody, how can they loathe our team a great deal?".I really hope the instance of cooperation and also leave that this space probe plus all the people in the course demonstrate daily will one day motivate the remainder of the globe to work similarly. They must!Sadly, we will not be flighting over the US during the time people are lighting candles. Don't recognize if our team can find that in any case. Our company performed, nevertheless, find a quite unusual and also attractive view a few minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our experts were actually surpassing it as well as it appeared regarding three mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight hit our station, so it was still at night. It resembled a large comet with a directly, wide tail silhouetted against the black world underneath. In spite of some poor lights for a while as the sunshine reached our window at a low angle, I managed some video clip of it as first we passed the rocket, and afterwards viewed it begin to catch up as it acquired elevation as well as speed. I shot until principal engine cutoff and booster separation developed just like our company came close to sunup on the Mountain ranges. A memorable sight in an unforgettable full week ...Life happens, also in space. Our company're listed here to keep ... Frank.