.Editor's Keep in mind: The adhering to is the text of a letter coming from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), assessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created quite regarding specifics of this mission throughout the month I have actually been listed below, mainly for pair of explanations: the initial being that there has been really little bit of opportunity to carry out that kind of writing, and second of all given that I'm unsure how pleasant I am sharing thoughts I provide friends and family along with the remainder of the planet.Well, definitely the planet altered today. What I claim or carry out is actually extremely slight matched up to the importance of what took place to our country today when it was attacked by ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we understand, I guess. Tough to understand at whom to direct our temper as well as worry ...I had simply finished a number of jobs this morning, one of the most time-consuming being actually the physical exams of all team members. In a private conversation complying with that, the flight doctor told me they were actually having an incredibly poor day on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He explained the scenario to me as greatest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually amazed, then alarmed. My first thought was actually that this wasn't a genuine conversation, that I was still listening closely to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It only didn't seem to be feasible on this scale in our country. I couldn't also think of the details, also before the headlines of additional destruction started being available in.Vladimir came by quite promptly, noticing that one thing incredibly severe was actually being actually reviewed. I swung Michael into the element also. They were additionally impressed and stunned. After our experts signed off, I attempted to discuss to Vladimir and Michael as greatest I could the potential enormity of this particular show of fear in midtown New york as well as at the Pentagon. They accurately understood as well as were very thoughtful.I browsed the Globe Map on the pc to view where over the world our team were and noticed that we were coming southeast out of Canada and also will be actually skipping New England in a few minutes. I whized around the terminal till I found a window that would certainly give me a view of New York City and also took hold of the local electronic camera. It occurred to be a camera, as well as I was looking southern coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to have a strange bloom to it at the foundation of the column that was actually streaming south of the area. After reading through some of the newspaper article our experts merely acquired, I feel our experts were actually examining NY around the moment of, or not long after, the crash of the 2nd tower. Exactly how dreadful ...I scanned the cam the whole time the East Coast to the south to see if I could find any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing at all showed up.It was actually rather difficult to deal with job after that, though our team possessed some to perform, but on the next track our team moved across the United States further southern. All three people were functioning one or two cameras to make an effort to get sights of New york city or even Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, yet no details source could be seen. It all appeared fabulous coming from 2 to 3 hundred miles away. I can't picture the tragic settings on the ground.Other than the psychological impact of our country being actually dealt with as well as hundreds of our residents and also perhaps some buddies being killed, one of the most mind-boggling sensation being actually where I am is one of isolation.Next time ... I guess the fatigue and mental strain received the most ideal of me. I could not keep awake and also remain to create. Today was actually still complicated, but our experts started receiving more details, plus we possessed the respect of talking directly with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who ensured our company that the ground staffs will continue to operate as well as guarantee our safety and security, as well as the risk-free procedure of the Place. Our team also heard from our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who included that the partners in the Plan are actually all entirely devoted to continuing risk-free procedures and assistance. These were certainly never questions for me. I know all these people! The ground staffs have actually been actually astonishingly supportive, incredibly understanding of the impact of the updates, and have actually attempted to become as helpful as achievable. They have all been actually incredibly expert as well as focused though I can't envision the diversion of this particular kind of information coming in and the thought and feelings that government buildings could be at risk. They never missed a beat, even when transferring control centers. And a group of senior employees as well as close friends gave our company a quite comprehensive instruction on what was recognized and what was actually being actually performed in the federal government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was really beneficial and type of them to do in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually also been actually helpful and handy, attempting to uplink news articles when our own properties were actually inoperable, and also mentioning kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually wonderful, as well. They know it's been actually a hard day for me as well as the people on the ground, and also they've tried to become as even keeled and also beneficial as feasible. Michael even repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me plenty of area to think when I required it. They are incredibly sympathetic as well as certainly shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I understand a lot of folks in Washington, plenty of individuals who take a trip to DC and New York City, numerous that are captains, that I experienced certain I would get at least a few items of trouble over the upcoming handful of days. I obtained the very first one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that reached the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I came across Chic during plebe summertime when our company resided in the D&B together, as well as we had lots of lessons with each other. I can not imagine what he needs to of looked at, and currently I hear that he might have risen even more than our team can also consider through probably avoiding his plane from being the one to tackle the White Home. What a terrible loss, but I'm sure Chic was actually dealing with bravely throughout. And tears don't move the very same in space ...It's tough to define exactly how it experiences to be the only United States fully off the earth each time including this. The feeling that I should be there with each one of you, dealing with this, helping in some way, is overwhelming. I know that our experts perform the threshold (or even beyond) of an awful switch in the past history of the globe. A lot of factors will never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the thousands and thousands of people directly affected by these hideous acts of terrorism, however perhaps for we all. Our company will locate our own selves really feeling in a different way concerning dozens of traits, including perhaps room expedition, regrettably.It's horrendous to view smoke pouring from wounds in your personal nation coming from such a superb angle. The dichotomy of performing a space probe committed to strengthening life on the earth and seeing life being actually ruined through such deliberate, horrible actions is jolting to the subconscious, no matter who you are actually. As well as the know-how that whatever will certainly be actually various than when our experts introduced due to the opportunity our company land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our nation and in our management that our company will certainly do everything feasible to far better safeguard her as well as our families, as well as to carry justice for what has actually been actually done. I have assurance that the excellent people at NASA will do everything essential to continue our goal safely and also return our team securely at the right time. And I miss all of you quite. I can't exist with you personally, and also our experts possess a long way to go to accomplish our mission, but be actually particular that my heart is actually along with you, and also understand you are in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last character ... Thankfully, it's been actually an active full week up listed below. And also to confirm that, like our nation, our company are advancing our planned road with company as usual (as high as feasible). Tonight the most up to date addition to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will be introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States time), it will dock along with our team, at a port never utilized prior to on the low point edge of the Company Module. This brand new element will certainly give our team yet another place to dock a Progression or even Soyuz and will certainly provide a big airlock with 2 useable hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our experts will certainly carry out a few of just before our team return.The concern before in dealing with recently was inadequate headlines. The trouble today is actually a lot of. It arrived at one time when e-mail was actually repaired, and also there is actually insufficient opportunity to review it all! Plus it is actually also difficult to cope with all of it immediately. But I enjoy obtaining it, and I actually enjoy the fantastic characters of support as well as friendship I am actually acquiring.We are actually doing well aboard, getting our work carried out, and discussing points. Last evening we had a long conversation over supper about the significance of these events, the feasible actions to comply with, and what ought to be performed. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every email he got from buddies in Russia claimed especially to inform me how sorry they were actually that this taken place, prolonging their condolences, and talking to just how I was doing. Vladimir educated me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Urban area. (Both the Russian and the English terms are a lot too lengthy to verbalize conveniently.) Really kind people.For the final two times, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transfer online programs of radio updates concerning the occasion and also associated stories, to see to it I was actually properly informed. Every expert that has started free throw line to go over a procedure or even a concern has at some factor extended introductions to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our team that because of the big day of remembrance in the United States, all the time individuals had been taking flowers and lining all the wall structures of the United States consulate in Moscow, as well as this evening they were lighting candlesticks in the street outside the consular office. How the planet has changed.Individuals all over appear to recognize the senselessness and scary in this attack. And the remarkable loss. Moscow has coped with these sort of complications in the last handful of years along with flat as well as metro bombings, so they are actually as nervous to get rid of this danger as our experts are actually. But all-time low line is that there are good individuals just about everywhere who intend to stay in tranquility. I read through that a kid inquired, "America is thus good to various other nations, our experts constantly aid every person, how can they hate our company so much?".I wish the instance of collaboration as well as leave that this space capsule and all people in the system illustrate daily are going to someday motivate the remainder of the planet to operate the same way. They must!Regrettably, our team will not be flighting over the US during the time individuals are actually lighting candlesticks. Do not know if our team can view that anyway. We performed, nevertheless, observe a really uncommon and also beautiful sight a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were surpassing it as well as it appeared regarding three moments after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine reached our station, so it was actually still in the dark. It resembled a large comet with a directly, broad tail silhouetted against the dark planet below. Even with some poor lights for some time as the sunlight hit our window at a low position, I handled some video clip of it as to begin with our experts passed the spacecraft, and afterwards watched it begin to catch up as it got altitude as well as speed. I shot up until main motor cutoff as well as enhancer splitting up happened equally we moved toward sunrise on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable attraction in an unforgettable full week ...Life goes on, even in space. Our team're right here to stay ... Frank.