.Publisher's Details: The complying with is actually the text of a character coming from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reassessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not written significantly concerning specifics of this objective during the course of the month I have actually been actually here, primarily for two causes: the very first being actually that there has actually been actually really little time to do that type of creating, and also furthermore, due to the fact that I am actually not sure how pleasant I am discussing notions I show to family and friends with the remainder of the planet.Effectively, obviously the world modified today. What I claim or do is actually extremely minor matched up to the importance of what occurred to our country today when it was actually attacked by ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we understand, I think. Hard to understand at whom to guide our temper as well as fear ...I had actually just ended up a variety of duties this morning, the best taxing being actually the physical exams of all workers members. In a personal talk observing that, the air travel plastic surgeon told me they were possessing an incredibly poor day on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He defined the condition to me as greatest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was astonished, after that frightened. My very first notion was actually that this wasn't a genuine discussion, that I was actually still listening to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It only failed to appear possible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even envision the particulars, even before the news of more destruction began coming in.Vladimir came by fairly quickly, sensing that one thing extremely severe was actually being actually covered. I waved Michael into the component as well. They were also amazed and also stunned. After our team signed off, I tried to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as absolute best I could possibly the potential immensity of the act of fear in midtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They plainly understood and were actually very sympathetic.I eyed the World Map on the computer to find where over the planet our company were and discovered that our experts were actually happening southeast out of Canada as well as will be skipping New England in a few moments. I zipped around the terminal up until I found a home window that would certainly provide me a sight of NYC as well as grabbed the closest video camera. It took place to be a camera, as well as I was appearing southern from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke appeared to possess a strange flower to it at the base of the column that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reading some of the newspaper article our team simply received, I believe we were looking at NY around the time of, or shortly after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. Exactly how awful ...I scanned the cam during the East Coast to the south to observe if I can see some other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing at all showed up.It was actually rather complicated to deal with work after that, though our experts had some to do, yet on the next orbit our experts traversed the United States more south. All 3 people were actually functioning one or two electronic cameras to attempt to receive views of Nyc or even Washington. There was haze over Washington, but no particular source could be seen. Everything looked awesome coming from two to three hundred miles away. I can not think of the awful settings on the ground.Other than the psychological effect of our country being tackled as well as 1000s of our consumers and perhaps some buddies being gotten rid of, the best overwhelming sensation being actually where I am is one of seclusion.Next day ... I suppose the fatigue as well as emotional tension got the greatest of me. I could not remain awake and remain to compose. Today was still complicated, however our experts started acquiring even more relevant information, plus our company had the tribute of speaking straight along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that guaranteed us that the ground staffs will remain to function as well as guarantee our security, in addition to the safe procedure of the Station. Our company also heard from our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the companions in the System are actually all completely devoted to carrying on safe operations and help. These were never inquiries for me. I know all these individuals! The ground groups have actually been actually exceptionally supportive, very understanding of the effect of the updates, and also have actually made an effort to be as useful as achievable. They have all been really professional and also concentrated though I can not envision the interruption of this particular sort of information coming in and the thought and feelings that government buildings could be at risk. They never ever skipped a beat, even when transferring nerve center. And also a group of elderly employees and also buddies offered our team a rather in depth rundown on what was recognized and also what was being performed in the government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually really helpful and also type of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has also been encouraging and helpful, attempting to uplink news articles when our personal properties were actually unusable, and saying kind phrases ...My crewmates have been great, also. They understand it's been a challenging time for me and also the individuals on the ground, and also they've attempted to become as also keeled as well as handy as achievable. Michael even fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they provide me lots of area to assume when I needed it. They are really sympathetic and of course shocked at whoever will do this.I recognize numerous people in Washington, numerous folks who take a trip to DC and also NYC, numerous who are actually captains, that I really felt certain I would obtain at least a few parts of problem over the next handful of times. I acquired the very first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of cadet summer season when we resided in the D&B with each other, and also our team had great deals of classes all together. I can not picture what he needs to of looked at, and right now I hear that he might have increased additionally than our company may even think about by probably avoiding his airplane coming from being the one to attack the White Property. What a dreadful loss, but I'm sure Chic was battling fearlessly throughout. And splits don't flow the exact same in space ...It is actually difficult to describe how it experiences to become the only United States fully off the world at a time such as this. The sensation that I should be there with each one of you, handling this, helping somehow, is difficult. I know that our experts are on the limit (or even beyond) of a horrible shift in the history of the world. Several factors are going to never coincide again after September 11, 2001. Not only for the thousands and also hundreds of individuals straight influenced through these hideous actions of violence, however perhaps for all of us. Our team will find our own selves feeling in a different way about lots of points, including possibly space expedition, unfortunately.It is actually unpleasant to observe smoke pouring coming from injuries in your own country coming from such an amazing perspective. The dichotomy of performing a spacecraft devoted to improving everyday life on the planet and also watching life being actually damaged through such planned, horrendous actions is actually jolting to the psyche, despite who you are. And the expertise that everything will definitely be actually different than when we launched due to the opportunity we land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our leadership that our experts are going to carry out whatever achievable to better defend her as well as our households, and to carry compensation of what has actually been actually done. I have confidence that the really good folks at NASA will definitely perform every thing needed to continue our mission securely and return our team carefully at the right time. As well as I miss each of you quite. I can not be there with you in person, as well as our experts possess a very long way to visit complete our mission, but be actually certain that my soul is with you, and recognize you remain in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... Luckily, it is actually been actually a hectic full week up listed here. And to show that, like our country, our company are actually advancing our desired path with service as usual (as much as possible). Tonight the most up to date enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will certainly be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (US time), it will definitely dock with our team, at a slot never ever made use of before on the low point side of the Solution Element. This brand-new element will definitely provide our team an additional area to dock a Progression or Soyuz as well as are going to supply a huge airlock along with pair of useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which we will carry out a few of prior to we return.The trouble before in handling this week was actually inadequate news. The issue now is actually way too much. It arrived at one time when email was actually brought back, and there's inadequate opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's too tough to take care of all of it at once. Yet I enjoy obtaining it, as well as I actually value the excellent characters of support and also friendship I am actually receiving.We are doing well aboard, getting our job done, and discussing factors. Final evening our experts had a lengthy conversation over dinner concerning the implication of these celebrations, the feasible activities to follow, as well as what need to be actually carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every email he obtained from friends in Russia claimed particularly to tell me how regretful they were that this taken place, expanding their condolences, and inquiring exactly 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 Celebrity Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are actually much very long to verbalize conveniently.) Extremely type people.For the final two days, the Russian MCC has been good enough to send real-time programs of broadcast updates regarding the occasion and also affiliated accounts, to see to it I was actually properly notified. Every professional that has actually come on free throw line to go over a method or even an issue has at some point extended greetings to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that because of the big day of recognition in the United States, all day folks had actually been delivering blossoms as well as lining all the wall surfaces of the US consulate in Moscow, as well as this night they were igniting candle lights in the road outside the consular office. Exactly how the globe has altered.Folks all over appear to recognize the senselessness as well as terror in this assault. And the enormous reduction. Moscow has handled these sort of problems in the final handful of years along with home as well as train bombings, so they are as distressed to get rid of this threat as our experts are actually. However all-time low product line is that there are excellent folks just about everywhere that want to stay in tranquility. I go through that a little one talked to, "The United States is so excellent to various other countries, our experts constantly assist everybody, exactly how can they despise our team a great deal?".I really hope the instance of participation and also leave that this space probe and all the people in the course illustrate daily will at some point encourage the remainder of the globe to operate similarly. They must!Regrettably, our team won't be flighting over the United States during the time individuals are actually lighting candles. Do not know if our team could possibly find that in any case. Our company did, nevertheless, view a quite unique and beautiful attraction a few minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were actually overtaking it as well as it emerged concerning three minutes after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight hit our station, so it was still unaware. It looked like a sizable comet with a straight, broad rear silhouetted against the dark planet below. Regardless of some poor lights for some time as the sunlight struck our home window at a low position, I managed some video of it as first our team passed the rocket, and after that viewed it begin to catch up as it obtained elevation and also rate. I filmed until principal motor cutoff and also booster splitting up happened equally as our company moved toward sunup on the Himalayas. An extraordinary sight in an extraordinary week ...Lifestyle happens, even precede. Our experts are actually here to keep ... Frank.