.Publisher's Keep in mind: The observing is the content of a letter from Expedition Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), assessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created very much regarding specifics of this mission during the course of the month I have actually been here, generally for two main reasons: the first being actually that there has been incredibly little time to carry out that sort of composing, as well as furthermore, due to the fact that I am actually uncertain exactly how comfy I am discussing thoughts I show friends and family with the rest of the planet.Properly, obviously the world changed today. What I state or even do is extremely slight contrasted to the value of what occurred to our nation today when it was actually assaulted through ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suppose. Hard to know at whom to drive our rage as well as anxiety ...I had actually just finished a number of activities today, the best taxing being actually the physical exams of all crew participants. In a private discussion observing that, the air travel plastic surgeon told me they were actually having an extremely bad time on the ground. I had no tip ...He defined the circumstance to me as absolute best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually shocked, after that terrified. My very first thought was that this wasn't a true talk, that I was still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely failed to seem achievable on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even picture the details, also before the information of further devastation started can be found in.Vladimir came by rather quickly, picking up that something really severe was being actually reviewed. I swayed Michael in to the module at the same time. They were likewise surprised as well as stunned. After our company authorized off, I attempted to discuss to Vladimir and Michael as best I might the potential measurement of this particular show of terror in downtown Manhattan and also at the Government. They precisely knew and were very sympathetic.I glanced at the World Chart on the pc to see where over the world our company were as well as discovered that our experts were coming southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be skipping New England in a few moments. I whized around the terminal until I found a home window that would offer me a view of New York City and also took hold of the local camera. It occurred to be a video camera, as well as I was appearing south from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the column that was streaming south of the city. After going through some of the newspaper article we simply acquired, I think our experts were checking out NY around the moment of, or soon after, the failure of the second high rise. Just how terrible ...I scanned the cam during the East Shoreline to the south to observe if I could possibly find some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was quite challenging to think of work after that, though our experts possessed some to perform, however on the upcoming track our team traversed the United States additional southern. All three people were working 1 or 2 video cameras to try to receive scenery of The big apple or Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no details resource could be found. All of it appeared unbelievable coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can't picture the unfortunate settings on the ground.Aside from the emotional influence of our nation being tackled and countless our people as well as maybe some good friends being actually eliminated, the most frustrating feeling being actually where I am is among solitude.Upcoming time ... I suspect the exhaustion as well as mental pressure acquired the best of me. I could not stay awake and continue to create. Today was still hard, but our company began getting more details, plus we had the tribute of speaking straight with the Center Director, Roy Estess, who assured our company that the ground staffs would certainly continue to operate as well as ensure our protection, as well as the risk-free procedure of the Place. Our experts also spoke with our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the System are all totally committed to continuing risk-free functions and also help. These were actually never inquiries for me. I understand all these people! The ground teams have actually been very supportive, quite understanding of the influence of the headlines, as well as have actually attempted to become as helpful as feasible. They have all been actually incredibly specialist and also concentrated though I can't envision the diversion of this kind of information being available in and the notion that authorities properties may be in jeopardy. They never ever avoided a beat, also when transferring control centers. And a group of elderly staffs and friends provided our company a fairly thorough briefing about what was actually known as well as what was actually being actually done in the government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was incredibly helpful and type of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually also been actually helpful and valuable, attempting to uplink news articles when our own assets were inoperable, and saying kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually fantastic, as well. They recognize it is actually been actually a difficult time for me as well as the people on the ground, and they've tried to be as even keeled as well as handy as feasible. Michael also repaired me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. And also they offer me plenty of room to assume when I required it. They are actually very compassionate as well as certainly outraged at whoever would certainly do this.I recognize plenty of individuals in Washington, numerous individuals that take a trip to DC and New York City, numerous who are aviators, that I felt sure I would certainly acquire at least a couple of items of bad news over the following couple of days. I got the very first one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that attacked the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I found Chic in the course of cadet summer season when our company resided in the D&B all together, as well as our team possessed considerable amounts of courses all together. I can't visualize what he needs to of gone through, and currently I listen to that he might possess risen even more than our company can also consider through perhaps preventing his plane from being the one to attack the White Home. What an awful reduction, yet I ensure Chic was battling bravely to the end. And splits don't flow the exact same in space ...It is actually difficult to explain just how it experiences to become the only American completely off the world each time including this. The emotion that I should be there with every one of you, coping with this, helping in some way, is overwhelming. I understand that we get on the limit (or even past) of an awful switch in the history of the planet. Lots of things will certainly never ever coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Not only for the thousands and lots of folks directly influenced by these horrendous process of violence, however most likely for we all. Our team are going to locate ourselves experiencing in a different way concerning loads of factors, consisting of probably space exploration, unfortunately.It's dreadful to observe smoke pouring from injuries in your own nation from such a wonderful perspective. The duality of getting on a spacecraft committed to improving life on the planet and also checking out lifestyle being damaged through such unforced, terrible actions is jolting to the psyche, regardless of who you are actually. As well as the expertise that whatever are going to be various than when our experts launched due to the opportunity our team land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our management that we will definitely do everything achievable to better shield her as well as our households, and to take compensation wherefore has been carried out. I possess assurance that the excellent individuals at NASA will definitely perform everything needed to continue our purpose properly as well as return us safely and securely at the correct time. And also I miss every one of you significantly. I can not exist with you personally, and we have a very long way to go to finish our mission, yet be particular that my center is along with you, and know you remain in my prayers.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... Fortunately, it is actually been an active week up listed below. As well as to prove that, like our country, our team are actually continuing on our intended path with business as usual (as long as achievable). Tonight the latest enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Area will certainly be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (US opportunity), it will dock along with our team, at a slot certainly never used just before on the low point side of the Service Component. This brand new module will certainly provide us an additional spot to dock a Progress or even Soyuz as well as will certainly provide a huge airlock with two useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our team will definitely perform a few of before our team get back.The issue prior to in dealing with recently was actually too little headlines. The issue right now is actually too much. It came at one time when email was recovered, as well as there's inadequate time to read it all! Plus it's too tough to handle all of it simultaneously. However I cherish obtaining it, and also I truly value the excellent letters of assistance and companionship I am actually receiving.Our experts are actually succeeding on board, receiving our job performed, and also discussing factors. Final night our team had a lengthy dialogue over supper concerning the significance of these occasions, the feasible activities to comply with, and also what need to be actually performed. After supper, Michael resolved informing me that every e-mail he got coming from friends in Russia said especially to inform me just how regretful they were that this occurred, prolonging their acknowledgements, and also asking exactly how I was actually doing. Vladimir showed me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Urban area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are much too long to pronounce conveniently.) Really kind individuals.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to broadcast real-time programs of radio headlines concerning the celebration and connected stories, to see to it I was properly educated. Every professional who has actually come on the line to review a procedure or a problem contends some point expanded introductions to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that because of the special day of remembrance in the United States, all the time individuals had actually been actually delivering flowers and also lining all the wall structures of the US consulate in Moscow, as well as this night they were igniting candles in the road outside the consular office. Just how the planet has altered.Folks just about everywhere appear to realize the senselessness and scary within this assault. And the incredible loss. Moscow has dealt with these sort of complications in the last couple of years along with condo as well as subway bombings, so they are as restless to do away with this hazard as we are. However the bottom line is that there are really good individuals almost everywhere that intend to stay in calmness. I read through that a little one inquired, "United States is actually so excellent to various other countries, we consistently assist everybody, exactly how can they hate us a lot?".I really hope the example of participation and trust that this space probe plus all the people in the system display daily are going to someday encourage the rest of the planet to operate similarly. They must!Regrettably, our company won't be actually flighting over the US during the time people are actually lighting candle lights. Don't understand if our company can find that in any case. We did, nevertheless, observe an extremely unique and also lovely attraction a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. Our experts were actually overtaking it as well as it appeared concerning 3 mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunshine attacked our station, so it was still unaware. It resembled a sizable comet along with a straight, wide rear silhouetted versus the darker planet under. Despite some negative illumination for a while as the sunlight reached our window at a reduced angle, I handled some video recording of it as initially our company passed the rocket, and then watched it begin to catch up as it acquired elevation and also velocity. I filmed till major motor cutoff and enhancer separation took place just like our company approached sunup on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable sight in an extraordinary week ...Life takes place, also precede. Our company are actually listed below to stay ... Frank.