.Publisher's Keep in mind: The observing is actually the message of a letter from Trip 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reflecting on the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written very much concerning specifics of this particular purpose during the month I've been actually here, generally for 2 explanations: the very first being that there has been extremely little time to perform that type of creating, and also because I'm not sure how relaxed I am actually discussing ideas I show to friends and family along with the rest of the globe.Properly, undoubtedly the planet changed today. What I point out or even perform is actually quite slight reviewed to the significance of what occurred to our nation today when it was assaulted by ... by whom? Terrorists is actually all we know, I think. Tough to understand at whom to drive our temper and anxiety ...I had actually merely finished a variety of duties this morning, the most lengthy being the physical exams of all staff participants. In a private discussion complying with that, the flight specialist informed me they were actually having a very poor time on the ground. I had no idea ...He described the situation to me as finest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually overwhelmed, at that point horrified. My very first notion was actually that this wasn't a true conversation, that I was actually still listening to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just really did not seem to be possible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't also visualize the details, also prior to the headlines of additional damage started being available in.Vladimir visited rather promptly, sensing that one thing really severe was actually being talked about. I swung Michael into the component too. They were actually likewise surprised as well as stunned. After our team authorized off, I made an effort to clarify to Vladimir as well as Michael as absolute best I can the possible immensity of this show of horror in downtown New york as well as at the Pentagon. They precisely comprehended and were very thoughtful.I browsed the Globe Chart on the computer to observe where over the globe we were actually as well as saw that our company were actually happening southeast away from Canada as well as would be actually skipping New England in a few moments. I zoomed around the station up until I located a home window that would certainly provide me a scenery of New York City and nabbed the local camera. It occurred to become a video camera, and I was appearing south from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to be to have a strange flower to it at the foundation of the column that was streaming south of the urban area. After going through one of the newspaper article our experts simply obtained, I feel our company were actually looking at NY around the time of, or even not long after, the crash of the second tower. Just how terrible ...I swept the cam the whole time the East Shoreline to the south to see if I could see some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually rather challenging to think of job after that, though our company had some to perform, yet on the following orbit our company traversed the US further south. All three of us were actually working 1 or 2 video cameras to attempt to acquire scenery of Nyc or Washington. There was haze over Washington, but no details resource could be seen. It all looked incredible from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can not visualize the terrible settings on the ground.Aside from the mental influence of our nation being attacked and also countless our people as well as possibly some close friends being actually eliminated, the best difficult feeling being actually where I am is among seclusion.Upcoming time ... I suppose the exhaustion and also emotional tension acquired the most ideal of me. I couldn't remain awake and also continue to create. Today was still tough, however our experts began getting more relevant information, plus our team possessed the tribute of speaking directly with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground crews would continue to operate and ensure our protection, along with the risk-free function of the Place. We additionally talked to our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the companions in the System are all totally committed to carrying on secure operations and also help. These were actually never inquiries for me. I know all these people! The ground crews have been exceptionally supporting, very understanding of the influence of the updates, and also have attempted to be as helpful as feasible. They have actually all been really qualified and focused though I can not envision the distraction of this particular kind of updates being available in and the thought that authorities buildings might be at risk. They never ever bypassed a beat, also when moving nerve center. And also a team of elderly employees and good friends provided our team a rather complete instruction on what was known as well as what was actually being carried out in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually really valuable as well as sort of all of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has additionally been actually helpful and also valuable, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own assets were actually unusable, and mentioning kind words ...My crewmates have been excellent, as well. They know it is actually been actually a hard time for me and also the individuals on the ground, and also they have actually made an effort to become as also keeled as well as practical as achievable. Michael also repaired me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. And they offer me loads of room to believe when I needed it. They are actually incredibly supportive as well as certainly shocked at whoever would perform this.I know so many people in Washington, a lot of people that take a trip to DC as well as NYC, a lot of that are flies, that I experienced certain I would get at least a couple of items of bad news over the following few times. I got the very first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that reached the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I encountered Chic during plebe summertime when our team were in the D&B with each other, and also our team had lots of training class all together. I can't envision what he has to of gone through, and also currently I listen to that he may possess risen additionally than our team may even think of through possibly preventing his airplane coming from being actually the one to tackle the White Residence. What an awful loss, yet I make certain Chic was actually battling bravely to the end. And also splits don't move the exact same in space ...It is actually hard to illustrate just how it experiences to become the only United States totally off the world at a time like this. The feeling that I need to be there along with every one of you, coping with this, aiding in some way, is actually overwhelming. I understand that our company get on the limit (or past) of a horrendous change in the past history of the globe. Lots of things are going to certainly never be the same again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the thousands and also 1000s of individuals directly influenced by these hideous acts of terrorism, but most likely for all of us. We will definitely locate ourselves really feeling differently regarding dozens of points, consisting of possibly room exploration, however.It is actually horrendous to find smoke putting coming from cuts in your personal nation from such a superb viewpoint. The duality of getting on a space probe devoted to enhancing life on the earth and checking out life being actually ruined through such willful, terrible acts is jolting to the psyche, despite that you are actually. As well as the know-how that whatever will be actually different than when we launched by the time our team land is a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and in our management that our experts will certainly do everything achievable to better safeguard her and also our families, as well as to carry fair treatment for what has actually been carried out. I possess assurance that the great people at NASA will do every thing essential to proceed our goal carefully and return us carefully at the correct time. And I overlook every one of you very much. I can't exist with you personally, as well as our experts possess a very long way to go to finish our objective, however be actually particular that my soul is actually with you, and understand you remain in my prayers.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... Thankfully, it's been a busy full week up here. And to verify that, like our country, our company are actually continuing on our planned road with organization as usual (as much as achievable). Tonight the latest add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States opportunity), it will certainly dock along with our team, at a slot never used before on the nadir side of the Service Component. This new component will provide our company one more place to dock a Development or Soyuz and also will deliver a sizable airlock with 2 useable hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which we are going to carry out a few of before we come home.The issue before in taking care of recently was too little headlines. The trouble today is actually too much. It came at one time when e-mail was actually restored, and also there is actually not enough time to review everything! Plus it's too difficult to manage all of it at the same time. Yet I cherish receiving it, as well as I definitely appreciate the excellent characters of assistance as well as friendship I am actually receiving.Our company are prospering aboard, receiving our job performed, as well as referring to traits. Final evening our experts had a long conversation over supper concerning the value of these activities, the feasible actions to adhere to, as well as what should be actually carried out. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every email he got from close friends in Russia stated specifically to tell me how sorry they were that this happened, prolonging their acknowledgements, as well as talking to exactly how I was performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian word for "condolences" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually much extremely lengthy to articulate conveniently.) Very type individuals.For the last two days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to broadcast online programs of radio news concerning the activity and also connected stories, to make certain I was actually well updated. Every expert that has come on the line to cover a treatment or an issue has at some factor prolonged greetings to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that because of the wedding of remembrance in the US, throughout the day individuals had been taking blossoms as well as lining all the walls of the United States consular office in Moscow, and this night they were actually lighting candlesticks in the street outside the consulate. Just how the world has modified.People anywhere appear to identify the senselessness and terror in this particular attack. And also the tremendous loss. Moscow has taken care of these sort of complications in the last few years with flat as well as metro battles, so they are actually as anxious to remove this threat as we are. However the bottom product line is actually that there are actually excellent folks anywhere that desire to stay in peace. I review that a youngster talked to, "America is therefore excellent to other nations, our team constantly help everyone, just how can they detest us a lot?".I hope the instance of participation as well as trust that this spacecraft and all the people in the program show daily are going to sooner or later inspire the remainder of the world to operate the same way. They must!Regrettably, our company will not be actually taking flight over the US during the time individuals are igniting candlesticks. Don't understand if our team can observe that in any case. We did, nonetheless, observe a very unusual and attractive attraction a couple of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were actually overtaking it and also it emerged regarding 3 mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sunlight attacked our terminal, so it was actually still at night. It resembled a big comet along with a directly, vast tail silhouetted against the darker earth below. Despite some poor lights for some time as the sunlight struck our window at a low position, I managed some video clip of it as to begin with our experts passed the rocket, and then viewed it start to catch up as it obtained altitude as well as speed. I recorded up until principal engine deadline and also enhancer separation developed just as our company approached dawn on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable view in a remarkable week ...Life goes on, also in space. Our experts are actually below to stay ... Frank.