.Editor's Details: The adhering to is actually the text of a letter from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created quite concerning specifics of the purpose in the course of the month I've been listed here, mainly for 2 factors: the initial being that there has actually been extremely little bit of time to carry out that kind of writing, and also second of all because I'm not sure exactly how pleasant I am discussing ideas I show to friends and family along with the remainder of the planet.Properly, certainly the planet transformed today. What I point out or even perform is extremely small reviewed to the significance of what occurred to our nation today when it was attacked through ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suppose. Tough to know at whom to route our temper as well as anxiety ...I had merely ended up a number of activities this morning, the most lengthy being the physical exams of all crew members. In a private talk complying with that, the flight surgeon told me they were possessing an extremely negative day on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He explained the circumstance to me as finest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was overwhelmed, after that horrified. My first notion was actually that this wasn't a genuine conversation, that I was actually still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy strips. It merely failed to appear achievable on this incrustation in our nation. I couldn't also imagine the details, even prior to the news of more damage began coming in.Vladimir dropped in rather promptly, noticing that one thing very significant was actually being actually reviewed. I swung Michael right into the element at the same time. They were also astonished as well as stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to explain to Vladimir and Michael as absolute best I could the prospective immensity of this particular show of fear in downtown New york and also at the Government. They precisely recognized as well as were really supportive.I glanced at the Planet Chart on the personal computer to view where over the world we were as well as saw that we were actually coming southeast out of Canada as well as would be skipping New England in a handful of moments. I zipped around the station till I found a home window that would certainly give me a perspective of New York City and ordered the nearest electronic camera. It occurred to be a video camera, and I was looking southern from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to have a strange flower to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the area. After reading one of the newspaper article our company simply got, I think our team were actually looking at NY around the moment of, or shortly after, the crash of the 2nd tower. Exactly how horrendous ...I panned the cam all along the East Shoreline to the south to view if I can see every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing was visible.It was fairly hard to think of work after that, though we possessed some to perform, but on the following track our company went across the US more southern. All three people were actually working one or two video cameras to try to receive perspectives of The big apple or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, yet no specific resource may be seen. It all looked fabulous from a couple of hundred miles away. I can not think of the tragic scenes on the ground.Apart from the psychological impact of our country being dealt with and lots of our people and also perhaps some buddies being eliminated, the absolute most mind-boggling feeling being where I am actually is one of isolation.Following time ... I reckon the fatigue as well as mental pressure received the greatest of me. I could not remain awake and also remain to create. Today was actually still hard, yet our experts began getting more information, plus our experts had the respect of chatting directly with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, who ensured our team that the ground crews will continue to operate and ensure our security, in addition to the secure procedure of the Place. We also heard from our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that added that the companions in the System are actually all absolutely devoted to continuing secure procedures and assistance. These were never questions for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground groups have actually been unbelievably supportive, quite understanding of the effect of the updates, and also have actually made an effort to be as beneficial as achievable. They have all been extremely expert and centered though I can't visualize the diversion of the kind of information coming in as well as the thought and feelings that authorities buildings may be in danger. They certainly never avoided a beat, also when moving nerve center. And a group of senior workers as well as close friends provided our team a rather comprehensive instruction on what was actually known as well as what was actually being done in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually extremely practical and sort of them to do in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has additionally been helpful and handy, attempting to uplink news articles when our own possessions were actually unusable, as well as claiming kind phrases ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, also. They understand it's been actually a hard time for me as well as the folks on the ground, as well as they've tried to be as even keeled and practical as possible. Michael also repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. And also they provide me loads of space to presume when I needed it. They are incredibly thoughtful as well as naturally shocked at whoever would perform this.I know plenty of individuals in Washington, a lot of folks who take a trip to DC and also New York City, so many who are actually captains, that I really felt certain I would obtain at the very least a couple of parts of bad news over the next couple of times. I acquired the first one today when I discovered that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that reached the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I encountered Chic during the course of cadet summer season when our company remained in the D&B with each other, and also our company had bunches of classes all together. I can't picture what he has to of undergone, as well as right now I listen to that he might possess climbed even further than our experts can easily even consider through possibly stopping his aircraft coming from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a horrendous loss, however I'm sure Chic was actually fighting bravely to the end. And also tears don't circulate the very same in space ...It is actually difficult to describe how it experiences to be the only United States totally off the world at a time including this. The emotion that I need to be there with every one of you, coping with this, helping somehow, is actually difficult. I recognize that our experts are on the limit (or even past) of a terrible switch in the history of the planet. Numerous factors are going to never ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the 1000s as well as hundreds of individuals straight affected through these ghastly actions of terrorism, but probably for all of us. We are going to discover ourselves feeling in a different way concerning loads of points, consisting of probably space exploration, unfortunately.It is actually horrendous to find smoke cigarettes putting from wounds in your personal nation coming from such a great perspective. The duality of performing a space capsule committed to strengthening everyday life on the planet as well as checking out life being actually damaged through such planned, awful actions is actually jolting to the subconscious, no matter that you are actually. As well as the expertise that every thing will certainly be different than when our experts released by the opportunity our team land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and in our leadership that our team will certainly do whatever possible to better safeguard her and also our households, and to deliver justice of what has actually been actually done. I possess assurance that the really good people at NASA will do every thing important to continue our goal securely and return our team securely at the correct time. And also I overlook all of you very much. I can't be there along with you in person, and we have a very long way to head to finish our mission, but be actually particular that my center is actually with you, and also recognize you reside in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... Luckily, it is actually been actually an active full week up below. And to prove that, like our nation, our company are actually advancing our designated course along with service as usual (as high as possible). Tonight the latest addition to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US opportunity), it is going to dock with our company, at a port certainly never used prior to on the low point edge of the Company Element. This brand new component will definitely offer our team another spot to dock a Progress or Soyuz and will definitely offer a large airlock along with 2 able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our team are going to carry out a few of before our company get home.The problem prior to in dealing with today was insufficient updates. The problem today is actually way too much. It arrived simultaneously when email was actually recovered, and also there is actually inadequate time to read everything! Plus it's also hard to deal with all of it at the same time. However I appreciate acquiring it, and also I really appreciate the wonderful characters of help and also friendship I am actually getting.We are doing well aboard, getting our job carried out, as well as talking about points. Final night our team had a long conversation over supper concerning the significance of these activities, the achievable actions to adhere to, and what need to be carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every e-mail he got from close friends in Russia said especially to tell me exactly how regretful they were that this happened, expanding their acknowledgements, as well as inquiring exactly how I was performing. Vladimir showed me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are considerably extremely lengthy to articulate effortlessly.) Quite kind individuals.For the last two days, the Russian MCC has been good enough to transmit real-time shows of broadcast information concerning the event and also connected stories, to ensure I was properly informed. Every specialist that has come on the line to talk about an operation or even a trouble contends some factor extended introductions to me with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that because of the big day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day individuals had been bringing flowers as well as lining all the walls of the US embassy in Moscow, and also this evening they were actually igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consular office. Exactly how the world has actually altered.People just about everywhere seem to realize the senselessness as well as terror in this attack. And the incredible loss. Moscow has handled these sort of concerns in the final handful of years along with apartment as well as metro bombings, so they are as anxious to get rid of this risk as our company are actually. Yet the bottom collection is actually that there are actually good people just about everywhere that desire to reside in peace. I read through that a youngster talked to, "America is thus good to other nations, our experts constantly assist every person, just how can they hate our team a lot?".I wish the instance of participation and also trust that this spacecraft and all people in the system show daily are going to one day motivate the remainder of the planet to operate similarly. They must!Sadly, our company won't be actually flighting over the United States while people are actually igniting candlesticks. Do not understand if our team could possibly view that anyway. Our company did, nevertheless, see an extremely uncommon and beautiful sight a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were surpassing it and also it came into view concerning three mins after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunlight struck our station, so it was still at night. It looked like a huge comet along with a right, vast tail silhouetted against the darker planet beneath. Even with some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sun struck our home window at a low perspective, I took care of some video of it as to begin with our team passed the spacecraft, and afterwards saw it begin to mesmerize as it acquired elevation as well as velocity. I filmed until principal engine cutoff and also enhancer separation occurred equally our company came close to sunrise on the Himalayas. An unforgettable sight in an unforgettable full week ...Lifestyle goes on, even in space. We are actually right here to keep ... Frank.