.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is actually the text of a letter coming from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reassessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created quite about specifics of this particular objective in the course of the month I've been actually below, primarily for 2 reasons: the 1st being that there has been extremely little bit of opportunity to do that sort of creating, as well as secondly considering that I am actually not sure exactly how pleasant I am discussing thought and feelings I show family and friends with the rest of the planet.Properly, obviously the planet altered today. What I mention or even carry out is quite slight matched up to the implication of what took place to our nation today when it was actually assaulted through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I presume. Difficult to understand at whom to guide our temper and worry ...I had actually merely finished a variety of duties this morning, one of the most time-consuming being actually the physical examinations of all workers participants. In a personal discussion adhering to that, the tour plastic surgeon informed me they were actually having an incredibly negative day on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He described the scenario to me as best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was dumbfounded, after that horrified. My first thought and feelings was actually that this wasn't a real conversation, that I was still listening to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely didn't seem to be possible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even picture the details, also before the information of more destruction started being available in.Vladimir came by fairly rapidly, sensing that one thing very serious was actually being actually reviewed. I swung Michael right into the module as well. They were actually also amazed as well as stunned. After our team signed off, I made an effort to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as absolute best I could possibly the potential size of this show of horror in midtown New york and also at the Pentagon. They precisely knew and also were actually quite thoughtful.I eyed the Planet Map on the pc to observe where over the world our company were and also saw that we were happening southeast away from Canada and also will be passing over New England in a few mins. I zoomed around the terminal till I discovered a window that would certainly provide me a scenery of New York City as well as grabbed the local cam. It happened to be a camera, as well as I was actually appearing south coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to have a weird blossom to it at the foundation of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the city. After reading through some of the news articles our team merely obtained, I feel our company were examining NY around the time of, or quickly after, the crash of the second tower. How unpleasant ...I scanned the camera all along the East Coastline to the south to view if I can find any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, however absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually rather tough to deal with work afterwards, though our experts possessed some to accomplish, yet on the upcoming track our experts crossed the US more south. All 3 of us were actually working a couple of cameras to make an effort to get perspectives of New york city or Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no specific resource can be seen. It all appeared astonishing coming from a couple of hundred miles away. I can not imagine the tragic scenes on the ground.Other than the emotional impact of our country being tackled as well as 1000s of our people as well as maybe some buddies being actually eliminated, the absolute most frustrating emotion being where I am is just one of isolation.Upcoming time ... I suspect the exhaustion and also psychological tension obtained the greatest of me. I could not stay awake as well as continue to compose. Today was actually still complicated, yet our company began receiving more relevant information, plus our company possessed the tribute of chatting straight along with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that assured us that the ground staffs would continue to work and ensure our safety, in addition to the secure procedure of the Station. Our team likewise talked to our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Program are actually all absolutely dedicated to proceeding risk-free functions and also help. These were certainly never inquiries for me. I understand all these people! The ground staffs have been extremely helpful, really understanding of the impact of the headlines, and have made an effort to be as valuable as possible. They have all been actually very professional and also centered though I can't think of the distraction of the kind of information coming in and the thought that federal government buildings could be in jeopardy. They certainly never missed a beat, also when relocating control centers. And also a group of senior workers and also buddies provided us a fairly extensive rundown about what was actually understood and also what was being actually carried out in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually very handy and type of all of them to carry out in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has additionally been encouraging and helpful, trying to uplink newspaper article when our own properties were unusable, and stating kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been excellent, as well. They recognize it is actually been a challenging time for me and the individuals on the ground, and also they've made an effort to be as even keeled and useful as feasible. Michael even fixed me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. And also they provide me loads of area to believe when I required it. They are actually really sympathetic as well as certainly outraged at whoever will perform this.I know a lot of people in Washington, many folks who take a trip to DC and also New York City, many who are actually pilots, that I experienced sure I would certainly receive at the very least a few pieces of problem over the upcoming handful of times. I received the initial one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that hit the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of cadet summer when our team were in the D&B together, as well as our company had lots of classes with each other. I can't visualize what he has to of gone through, and currently I hear that he might have risen additionally than we can also think of through possibly avoiding his aircraft coming from being the one to deal with the White Residence. What a horrible loss, however I make certain Chic was actually combating bravely to the end. And tears don't circulate the exact same in space ...It's hard to explain just how it really feels to be the only American fully off the earth at once such as this. The emotion that I ought to be there along with all of you, handling this, aiding somehow, is actually overwhelming. I recognize that our team perform the threshold (or even beyond) of a dreadful switch in the record of the planet. Lots of things will certainly certainly never coincide again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the thousands and thousands of people directly affected through these ghastly process of terrorism, yet possibly for all of us. Our company will certainly locate ourselves feeling differently about dozens of points, including perhaps room expedition, sadly.It's horrendous to view smoke cigarettes putting coming from cuts in your very own country coming from such a wonderful point of view. The dichotomy of being on a space probe devoted to improving daily life on the planet and viewing lifestyle being ruined by such purposeful, terrible acts is jolting to the mind, no matter that you are. As well as the understanding that every thing will be different than when our experts released by the opportunity our company land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and in our management that our company will definitely carry out everything feasible to much better protect her and also our households, as well as to carry fair treatment wherefore has actually been done. I possess peace of mind that the excellent folks at NASA will perform whatever important to continue our purpose carefully and return our company carefully at the right time. And I skip every one of you quite. I can't exist along with you personally, as well as we have a very long way to go to complete our mission, but be actually specific that my heart is along with you, as well as know you remain in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final letter ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually a hectic week up listed below. As well as to show that, like our nation, our company are continuing our planned pathway with service as usual (as high as feasible). Tonight the current enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Area will certainly be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (US opportunity), it will definitely dock along with our company, at a slot certainly never used before on the low point edge of the Solution Component. This brand new module will definitely give our team an additional area to dock a Development or Soyuz and also will deliver a huge airlock along with two useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our team are going to do a few of before our company get home.The complication prior to in managing this week was inadequate updates. The issue today is actually way too much. It arrived at one time when e-mail was recovered, as well as there's not nearly enough opportunity to read everything! Plus it's too difficult to manage all of it at once. Yet I appreciate obtaining it, and also I truly appreciate the great letters of assistance as well as relationship I am actually receiving.Our experts are prospering on board, acquiring our job done, as well as referring to factors. Last evening we possessed a lengthy dialogue over dinner regarding the implication of these occasions, the feasible activities to observe, and what must be performed. After dinner, Michael challenged informing me that every e-mail he acquired from pals in Russia mentioned especially to tell me exactly how sorry they were that this happened, prolonging their condolences, and talking to just how I was doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar City. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are much too long to pronounce effortlessly.) Quite kind folks.For the last 2 days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit online broadcasts of broadcast updates about the event as well as associated accounts, to see to it I was properly informed. Every specialist that has actually started the line to explain a procedure or even a concern has at some aspect extended greetings to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that due to the wedding day of recognition in the United States, all the time individuals had actually been actually taking flowers as well as edging all the walls of the US consulate in Moscow, as well as this evening they were actually igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consulate. Just how the globe has actually changed.Individuals almost everywhere appear to identify the senselessness and also terror within this assault. And also the enormous reduction. Moscow has handled these sort of concerns in the final few years with house and also train battles, so they are actually as nervous to do away with this threat as we are. But the bottom series is that there are actually good folks just about everywhere who want to live in tranquility. I check out that a kid asked, "The United States is actually thus good to various other nations, our experts constantly help every person, just how can they despise us a lot?".I wish the instance of collaboration as well as rely on that this spacecraft and all people in the program show daily will sooner or later encourage the remainder of the planet to work the same way. They must!Unfortunately, our experts will not be taking flight over the United States while individuals are lighting candlesticks. Do not recognize if our team could view that in any case. Our team did, nevertheless, find a very unique as well as stunning sight a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were eclipsing it and it appeared regarding three minutes after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight attacked our station, so it was actually still in the dark. It looked like a large comet along with a directly, broad rear silhouetted against the dark world below. Regardless of some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sun hit our home window at a reduced angle, I handled some online video of it as initially our team passed the spacecraft, and then enjoyed it begin to catch up as it acquired height and also rate. I recorded till principal motor cutoff and also enhancer splitting up developed just like we came close to dawn on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable view in an extraordinary week ...Life takes place, also in space. Our company're right here to keep ... Frank.