.Editor's Details: The complying with is actually the message of a letter coming from Exploration 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reassessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written quite concerning specifics of this mission during the month I have actually been right here, mostly for 2 factors: the first being that there has been actually incredibly little bit of opportunity to perform that kind of writing, as well as second of all considering that I'm unsure how comfortable I am actually sharing thoughts I share with friends and family with the remainder of the world.Effectively, undoubtedly the world changed today. What I point out or even perform is actually incredibly small compared to the implication of what happened to our nation today when it was actually assaulted through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I guess. Tough to know at whom to guide our anger as well as concern ...I had only finished a variety of jobs today, the best taxing being actually the physical exams of all workers members. In an exclusive discussion complying with that, the air travel cosmetic surgeon informed me they were actually possessing an extremely bad day on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He described the scenario to me as finest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually stunned, after that horrified. My initial idea was actually that this had not been an actual chat, that I was still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy strips. It simply really did not appear possible on this incrustation in our country. I could not even think of the details, even before the headlines of additional destruction started can be found in.Vladimir visited quite promptly, noticing that something very severe was being actually talked about. I swung Michael right into the element also. They were actually likewise blown away and stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to detail to Vladimir as well as Michael as greatest I could the possible size of this particular act of fear in midtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They clearly knew and were incredibly sympathetic.I eyed the Planet Map on the personal computer to see where over the globe our experts were as well as noticed that our team were happening southeast out of Canada and will be actually passing over New England in a few minutes. I zoomed around the terminal up until I found a window that would certainly provide me a viewpoint of New York City as well as got the nearby camera. It occurred to be a camera, and also I was looking south coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to possess an odd bloom to it at the base of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reviewing one of the news articles our team only received, I think our team were actually taking a look at NY around the time of, or not long after, the failure of the 2nd tower. How terrible ...I swung the electronic camera the whole time the East Shoreline to the south to see if I might find every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was actually quite difficult to deal with job afterwards, though our experts had some to accomplish, yet on the following orbit our team crossed the US more south. All 3 people were actually operating one or two electronic cameras to make an effort to acquire viewpoints of Nyc or Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no specific source might be viewed. All of it looked extraordinary coming from a couple of hundred miles away. I can't envision the unfortunate settings on the ground.Besides the psychological impact of our nation being actually tackled and 1000s of our citizens as well as maybe some buddies being actually gotten rid of, one of the most mind-boggling feeling being where I am actually is among isolation.Next time ... I presume the exhaustion and psychological tension acquired the very best of me. I could not keep awake as well as remain to create. Today was still challenging, however we began obtaining additional information, plus our experts possessed the honor of speaking directly along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who ensured us that the ground teams will continue to function as well as ensure our safety, as well as the secure procedure of the Station. We likewise learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that added that the partners in the System are actually all absolutely committed to carrying on secure procedures as well as assistance. These were never ever concerns for me. I know all these folks! The ground crews have been actually surprisingly helpful, really understanding of the influence of the headlines, and have made an effort to be as helpful as feasible. They have actually all been actually incredibly specialist as well as focused though I can't imagine the distraction of the sort of information can be found in and also the thought and feelings that authorities buildings might be at risk. They never ever skipped a beat, even when transferring nerve center. And a group of senior staffs and buddies offered us a rather complete rundown about what was actually understood and also what was actually being performed in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually extremely practical and also kind of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has also been supporting and handy, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own properties were actually inoperable, as well as pointing out kind words ...My crewmates have actually been actually fantastic, also. They understand it is actually been a tough day for me and also the folks on the ground, and also they have actually made an effort to become as even keeled and also beneficial as achievable. Michael even fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. And they offer me a lot of room to assume when I required it. They are very compassionate and obviously shocked at whoever would do this.I understand a lot of individuals in Washington, numerous folks that take a trip to DC and also New York City, numerous that are actually pilots, that I really felt sure I would certainly get at the very least a couple of parts of trouble over the upcoming couple of days. I obtained the first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I found Chic throughout plebe summer when our team resided in the D&B with each other, and also we possessed bunches of classes with each other. I can't envision what he has to of undergone, as well as currently I listen to that he may possess increased better than our company may even think of through perhaps preventing his airplane from being the one to tackle the White Property. What a horrible reduction, yet I make sure Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. As well as rips do not move the exact same in space ...It's tough to explain how it experiences to become the only United States totally off the planet at a time like this. The feeling that I need to be there along with each one of you, handling this, helping in some way, is actually overwhelming. I know that our team get on the limit (or beyond) of a dreadful switch in the past history of the world. Lots of points will certainly never be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the manies thousand and lots of individuals directly had an effect on by these horrible acts of violence, however most likely for we all. Our company will definitely find our own selves experiencing in a different way about lots of points, featuring most likely space expedition, regrettably.It's terrible to see smoke pouring coming from wounds in your own country coming from such a wonderful point of view. The dichotomy of performing a spacecraft committed to strengthening daily life on the earth and also viewing life being actually damaged through such deliberate, dreadful acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are. And the know-how that everything will definitely be various than when we introduced due to the time our company land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country and also in our leadership that our experts will carry out every little thing achievable to much better defend her and our loved ones, and also to bring compensation wherefore has actually been done. I have confidence that the really good folks at NASA are going to perform every little thing important to proceed our objective safely and also return us properly at the right time. And I overlook every one of you very much. I can not be there along with you face to face, and also our experts have a very long way to head to accomplish our goal, however be actually certain that my soul is actually with you, and also recognize you are in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last letter ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually an occupied week up below. And also to prove that, like our nation, our team are actually continuing on our intended road with business as usual (as long as achievable). Tonight the latest add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Area will be actually released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States time), it will dock with our team, at a port never ever utilized prior to on the nadir edge of the Solution Element. This new component is going to give our company another location to dock an Improvement or Soyuz as well as will certainly deliver a large airlock with two useable hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which we will definitely carry out a few of prior to our experts get home.The complication prior to in coping with today was insufficient updates. The complication now is actually excessive. It arrived simultaneously when email was actually recovered, and there is actually insufficient opportunity to read all of it! Plus it is actually also challenging to deal with all of it instantly. But I value acquiring it, and also I truly cherish the fantastic letters of support and companionship I am getting.We are succeeding on board, acquiring our work done, and also talking about points. Last evening our company possessed a lengthy conversation over dinner concerning the significance of these celebrations, the achievable actions to observe, and what ought to be actually carried out. After dinner, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he received from close friends in Russia stated exclusively to tell me how sorry they were that this taken place, prolonging their acknowledgements, and also asking exactly how I was carrying out. Vladimir instructed me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are considerably extremely long to pronounce conveniently.) Really type folks.For the final two times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to broadcast real-time programs of broadcast updates about the event and also affiliated tales, to make certain I was actually effectively educated. Every specialist who has actually come on the line to go over a procedure or a trouble has at some aspect stretched introductions to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that because of the big day of remembrance in the US, throughout the day individuals had been actually taking flowers and edging all the wall structures of the United States embassy in Moscow, and also this night they were igniting candlesticks in the road outside the embassy. Exactly how the world has modified.Individuals anywhere seem to be to recognize the senselessness and also terror in this attack. And also the tremendous reduction. Moscow has dealt with these type of problems in the last handful of years with condo as well as train battles, so they are as troubled to do away with this danger as our company are. However all-time low series is actually that there are actually excellent individuals anywhere who intend to stay in calmness. I read that a kid inquired, "United States is actually so really good to various other countries, our company regularly help everyone, how can they dislike our company a great deal?".I wish the example of cooperation as well as rely on that this space capsule plus all the people in the system demonstrate daily will at some point influence the remainder of the world to operate similarly. They must!Sadly, our company will not be flighting over the US while folks are actually lighting candle lights. Don't understand if we could observe that anyhow. Our team did, nevertheless, see an incredibly uncommon and lovely attraction a handful of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were actually eclipsing it and it emerged about three minutes after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight attacked our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It appeared like a huge comet along with a straight, vast rear silhouetted versus the black planet below. Despite some negative lights for some time as the sunlight hit our window at a reduced viewpoint, I dealt with some video recording of it as first we passed the rocket, and after that saw it start to catch up as it obtained height and velocity. I filmed up until principal motor deadline and also enhancer splitting up took place equally as our experts came close to dawn on the Mountain ranges. An extraordinary view in a remarkable week ...Life happens, even precede. Our team're right here to stay ... Frank.