.Editor's Details: The adhering to is actually the text of a letter coming from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reviewing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created quite regarding specifics of the purpose during the course of the month I've been below, mainly for 2 explanations: the initial being actually that there has actually been very little bit of time to do that sort of composing, and also second of all since I'm unsure just how comfy I am sharing notions I share with family and friends along with the rest of the planet.Well, certainly the world modified today. What I say or even do is quite slight contrasted to the implication of what took place to our country today when it was struck through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I presume. Hard to know at whom to drive our anger and also concern ...I had actually just ended up a variety of tasks this morning, the best time-consuming being actually the physical exams of all team members. In a private talk complying with that, the flight plastic surgeon told me they were possessing a quite poor day on the ground. I had no tip ...He defined the scenario to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually dumbfounded, after that alarmed. My very first idea was that this had not been an actual talk, that I was still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It simply didn't seem achievable on this incrustation in our nation. I could not also picture the details, even prior to the headlines of additional destruction began coming in.Vladimir came by pretty quickly, noticing that something really severe was actually being covered. I waved Michael into the module at the same time. They were actually likewise impressed as well as stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to clarify to Vladimir and Michael as greatest I can the possible immensity of this show of fear in downtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They accurately understood as well as were very sympathetic.I glanced at the World Map on the personal computer to view where over the globe our company were and also observed that we were actually happening southeast away from Canada as well as would certainly be actually passing over New England in a couple of moments. I zoomed around the station up until I discovered a home window that would certainly offer me a perspective of NYC as well as took hold of the nearby camera. It occurred to be a video camera, and I was looking southern coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have an odd bloom to it at the foundation of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reviewing some of the news articles our company just got, I think our team were looking at NY around the time of, or soon after, the collapse of the second high rise. How horrible ...I panned the electronic camera during the East Coastline to the south to find if I could observe every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, but absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually pretty hard to think about work after that, though our company possessed some to perform, however on the following orbit our team traversed the United States further south. All 3 people were actually working a couple of electronic cameras to make an effort to receive scenery of The big apple or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no details resource might be found. Everything appeared fabulous from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can't think of the terrible scenes on the ground.Apart from the psychological influence of our nation being tackled as well as countless our residents and maybe some close friends being gotten rid of, the most mind-boggling emotion being actually where I am is one of isolation.Next time ... I suspect the exhaustion and emotional stress received the most effective of me. I could not remain awake as well as continue to create. Today was still hard, but our company began getting more information, plus our company had the respect of chatting straight along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who ensured our company that the ground staffs would continue to work and guarantee our security, and also the safe procedure of the Station. Our team also learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the partners in the Plan are all entirely dedicated to carrying on risk-free operations and support. These were never ever inquiries for me. I know all these people! The ground groups have been actually extremely helpful, extremely understanding of the effect of the headlines, and have actually made an effort to be as valuable as feasible. They have all been actually really expert as well as concentrated though I can not imagine the diversion of the type of headlines being available in and also the idea that authorities buildings could be vulnerable. They never ever bypassed a beat, also when transferring control centers. And a group of senior staffs and good friends provided us a fairly comprehensive instruction on what was recognized and what was actually being done in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was really valuable and kind of them to accomplish in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually also been actually supporting and also helpful, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our personal properties were actually unusable, as well as saying kind terms ...My crewmates have been actually great, as well. They know it's been a challenging day for me and the people on the ground, as well as they have actually attempted to become as also keeled as well as practical as possible. Michael even fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they offer me lots of room to think when I needed it. They are incredibly considerate and also obviously shocked at whoever will perform this.I recognize plenty of folks in Washington, numerous people who take a trip to DC and NYC, so many that are actually aviators, that I felt certain I would obtain a minimum of a couple of items of problem over the following couple of times. I got the very first one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that hit the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I came across Chic throughout plebe summer months when our team resided in the D&B all together, as well as we had lots of classes all together. I can not visualize what he needs to of gone through, and currently I listen to that he may have risen even more than our experts can also think about through possibly stopping his airplane coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Home. What an awful loss, yet I make sure Chic was combating fearlessly throughout. And splits don't stream the exact same in space ...It's hard to explain exactly how it feels to be the only American fully off the earth at once including this. The feeling that I ought to exist with all of you, coping with this, assisting somehow, is mind-boggling. I understand that our company perform the threshold (or beyond) of a terrible switch in the past of the world. Several traits will certainly never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the thousands and countless people directly affected by these ghastly process of terrorism, yet possibly for all of us. Our team are going to find ourselves really feeling differently concerning lots of factors, consisting of perhaps room exploration, however.It's horrendous to find smoke putting from cuts in your very own country from such a great point of view. The dichotomy of performing a space capsule dedicated to strengthening daily life on the earth as well as watching lifestyle being damaged through such purposeful, awful process is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are. And also the expertise that every thing will definitely be actually various than when we launched due to the time our team land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and also in our leadership that our experts will definitely perform whatever feasible to better protect her and also our families, and also to take fair treatment wherefore has actually been carried out. I have self-confidence that the really good people at NASA will carry out every thing essential to continue our mission properly as well as return our company properly at the right time. And I overlook each one of you quite. I can't exist along with you in person, as well as our team possess a long way to visit accomplish our objective, however be actually particular that my soul is along with you, as well as know you reside in my prayers.Humbly, 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 right here. As well as to prove that, like our nation, our team are continuing on our planned course along with company as usual (as much as feasible). Tonight the most up to date enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Area are going to be released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States opportunity), it is going to dock with our company, at a port certainly never utilized just before on the low point side of the Solution Module. This brand-new module will certainly offer our team yet another location to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and also will certainly give a big airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our team are going to do a few of just before our experts return.The trouble just before in managing today was actually too little news. The complication today is excessive. It arrived all at once when e-mail was brought back, as well as there's not nearly enough time to read everything! Plus it's as well challenging to take care of all of it at once. But I enjoy acquiring it, as well as I truly value the fantastic letters of assistance and also companionship I am receiving.Our team are flourishing on board, receiving our work done, and talking about traits. Final evening our experts possessed a long dialogue over supper about the implication of these activities, the achievable activities to adhere to, and what should be actually done. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every email he obtained coming from good friends in Russia mentioned especially to tell me exactly how sorry they were that this taken place, expanding their acknowledgements, and also inquiring exactly how I was actually performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Urban area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are much very long to pronounce conveniently.) Really type people.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit real-time programs of broadcast headlines concerning the celebration and also connected tales, to see to it I was properly notified. Every expert who has come on the line to discuss an operation or even a complication contends some aspect extended hellos to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that as a result of the special day of remembrance in the United States, all the time folks had been actually taking flowers as well as edging all the wall structures of the US consular office in Moscow, and this night they were actually igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consulate. Just how the globe has actually modified.People just about everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness and also horror in this strike. As well as the tremendous loss. Moscow has taken care of these kind of concerns in the last few years along with apartment and train bombings, so they are as troubled to remove this danger as we are. But all-time low line is actually that there are excellent individuals just about everywhere who desire to live in calmness. I read that a youngster inquired, "United States is actually so good to other nations, we consistently aid everyone, exactly how can they hate our team a lot?".I hope the instance of participation and also leave that this space capsule plus all people in the course illustrate daily are going to one day motivate the remainder of the world to work the same way. They must!Regrettably, our team will not be actually taking flight over the US during the time individuals are igniting candlesticks. Don't know if our team could observe that anyway. Our company did, however, observe a very unique as well as wonderful view a handful of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. We were surpassing it and also it emerged regarding three minutes after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sun hit our station, so it was still unaware. It appeared like a sizable comet with a straight, large tail silhouetted versus the black earth beneath. Despite some bad lighting for some time as the sunshine hit our home window at a reduced angle, I handled some video clip of it as initially our company passed the rocket, and after that saw it start to catch up as it obtained elevation and rate. I shot up until primary engine deadline as well as enhancer separation happened just as we came close to dawn on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable view in an unforgettable week ...Life goes on, even precede. We are actually listed below to remain ... Frank.