.Editor's Note: The adhering to is the text of a character from Trip Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created very much about specifics of this purpose during the month I have actually been listed here, generally for 2 factors: the very first being that there has been quite little opportunity to perform that sort of creating, as well as the second thing is since I am actually uncertain how comfortable I am actually discussing ideas I provide friends and family with the remainder of the globe.Effectively, undoubtedly the globe altered today. What I state or even do is extremely small contrasted to the significance of what occurred to our country today when it was actually assaulted by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I suppose. Challenging to understand at whom to guide our temper and also worry ...I had actually just finished an amount of jobs today, the most taxing being the physical examinations of all crew participants. In a private conversation observing that, the tour doctor informed me they were having a quite poor time on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He illustrated the condition to me as ideal he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually shocked, then alarmed. My very first thought was actually that this wasn't a genuine discussion, that I was actually still listening to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It just really did not seem to be achievable on this incrustation in our nation. I could not even picture the particulars, even prior to the news of further destruction started coming in.Vladimir dropped in quite quickly, sensing that one thing quite serious was being actually reviewed. I swung Michael into the module too. They were actually likewise amazed and stunned. After our experts authorized off, I made an effort to detail to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I could the potential immensity of the show of fear in downtown Manhattan as well as at the Pentagon. They accurately comprehended as well as were actually extremely considerate.I eyed the World Chart on the pc to find where over the world our company were and observed that our company were actually coming southeast away from Canada and would certainly be passing over New England in a handful of moments. I whized around the terminal up until I found a home window that will provide me a scenery of New York City and nabbed the local video camera. It took place to be a video camera, and also I was actually looking southern from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to have a weird flower to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After going through one of the newspaper article we merely got, I think our experts were examining NY around the moment of, or even quickly after, the failure of the second tower. Exactly how dreadful ...I swept the video camera the whole time the East Shore to the south to observe if I might view any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing at all was visible.It was actually quite tough to deal with job afterwards, though our experts had some to do, yet on the following orbit our company went across the US more southern. All 3 of us were actually working one or two electronic cameras to try to receive sights of The big apple or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no details source could be viewed. It all appeared unbelievable from two to three hundred miles away. I can't visualize the terrible settings on the ground.Other than the emotional influence of our nation being actually dealt with and also thousands of our people and perhaps some friends being eliminated, one of the most mind-boggling emotion being actually where I am is just one of seclusion.Following day ... I suppose the exhaustion and also mental strain got the best of me. I could not keep awake and continue to compose. Today was actually still complicated, however our company started receiving even more info, plus our company possessed the tribute of speaking straight along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who guaranteed us that the ground teams would remain to operate and also guarantee our security, in addition to the secure procedure of the Station. Our team likewise learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the partners in the Course are actually all entirely devoted to continuing safe procedures and also support. These were never inquiries for me. I understand all these people! The ground crews have been actually very supporting, quite understanding of the effect of the updates, as well as have attempted to become as useful as possible. They have actually all been actually extremely qualified and also focused though I can't think of the disturbance of this form of news can be found in as well as the thought that authorities properties may be in jeopardy. They certainly never skipped a beat, even when moving nerve center. And a team of senior workers and also pals gave us a rather comprehensive rundown on what was known and also what was being actually done in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually really practical as well as type of them to accomplish in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been actually helpful as well as beneficial, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our own assets were actually inoperable, and claiming kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been terrific, as well. They know it is actually been actually a tough time for me and also the folks on the ground, and also they've attempted to be as even keeled and useful as possible. Michael even corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. And they provide me lots of space to assume when I needed it. They are incredibly understanding and also obviously shocked at whoever will do this.I recognize so many people in Washington, many folks that travel to DC and also New York City, numerous that are actually captains, that I felt certain I would certainly acquire a minimum of a handful of parts of trouble over the following couple of days. I received the very first one today when I knew that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that reached the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic during cadet summer months when our team resided in the D&B with each other, as well as our company possessed bunches of courses with each other. I can't visualize what he has to of undergone, and also currently I hear that he might have climbed additionally than our experts can easily even think about by probably avoiding his aircraft coming from being the one to attack the White Property. What a dreadful loss, but I make certain Chic was fighting fearlessly throughout. And also splits don't move the very same in space ...It's hard to illustrate how it feels to become the only United States completely off the earth at once such as this. The sensation that I need to exist along with every one of you, handling this, aiding somehow, is actually mind-boggling. I recognize that our team perform the limit (or beyond) of a horrendous change in the past history of the planet. Numerous points will definitely never ever coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Not just for the thousands and also hundreds of people straight affected by these ghastly actions of violence, but probably for we all. Our experts are going to discover our own selves feeling in a different way about lots of points, featuring most likely room expedition, regrettably.It is actually horrible to find smoke pouring coming from cuts in your very own nation from such a wonderful viewpoint. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft devoted to improving life on the earth and also enjoying life being actually ruined by such unforced, terrible acts is actually jolting to the mind, despite that you are actually. And the understanding that every little thing will certainly be different than when we released due to the opportunity our company land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our nation and in our management that our team are going to do every little thing achievable to better shield her and our family members, and to carry justice of what has actually been actually done. I possess confidence that the excellent people at NASA will definitely perform whatever important to proceed our objective safely and also return our company securely at the correct time. And I miss each one of you significantly. I can not be there with you face to face, and also our team possess a long way to head to finish our goal, yet be actually particular that my heart is along with you, and also understand you reside in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... The good news is, it is actually been a busy week up listed below. And also to verify that, like our nation, we are advancing our planned road along with company as usual (as much as possible). Tonight the most up to date addition to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will certainly be actually released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (US time), it will dock with our team, at a slot never utilized before on the nadir edge of the Solution Module. This brand new component will certainly provide our team yet another area to dock a Progress or Soyuz and also will definitely supply a sizable airlock with pair of able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our team will perform a few of before our experts return.The concern before in managing recently was actually inadequate headlines. The issue now is actually too much. It arrived at one time when email was restored, as well as there's inadequate time to read everything! Plus it's also hard to manage all of it instantly. Yet I enjoy receiving it, and I truly cherish the fantastic letters of support and also relationship I am receiving.Our company are prospering aboard, getting our job carried out, and also referring to things. Final night our team had a lengthy discussion over supper regarding the importance of these activities, the feasible activities to follow, and what ought to be done. After dinner, Michael challenged informing me that every e-mail he acquired coming from friends in Russia stated exclusively to tell me exactly how regretful they were that this occurred, stretching their acknowledgements, as well as asking just how I was actually doing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian term for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian and the English terms are actually considerably too long to pronounce quickly.) Incredibly types folks.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transfer real-time shows of radio updates regarding the activity as well as linked stories, to ensure I was actually effectively notified. Every specialist that has begun free throw line to explain an operation or a problem contends some factor stretched introductions to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that due to the big day of remembrance in the US, all day folks had been carrying flowers and edging all the wall surfaces of the United States consular office in Moscow, and also this evening they were igniting candlesticks in the street outside the embassy. How the planet has actually transformed.Folks all over appear to identify the senselessness as well as terror in this particular assault. As well as the enormous reduction. Moscow has actually coped with these type of complications in the last handful of years along with house and train battles, so they are actually as restless to get rid of this risk as we are. But the bottom series is that there are good people anywhere who intend to reside in calmness. I read through that a youngster asked, "America is actually so really good to other nations, our company always assist everyone, how can they loathe our company a great deal?".I really hope the example of participation as well as depend on that this spacecraft plus all people in the program display daily are going to someday encourage the remainder of the planet to operate the same way. They must!Sadly, our team won't be actually flying over the United States during the time individuals are igniting candlesticks. Don't recognize if our experts could possibly find that anyhow. Our experts carried out, however, see an incredibly uncommon and also wonderful sight a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. We were actually overtaking it and also it appeared about three minutes after its launch from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our station, so it was actually still unaware. It resembled a large comet along with a straight, vast tail silhouetted versus the darker world underneath. Despite some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sunlight reached our home window at a low perspective, I took care of some video recording of it as initially our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that watched it start to catch up as it gained altitude and rate. I filmed till main engine cutoff as well as enhancer separation occurred just like our team moved toward sunrise on the Himalayas. A memorable view in a memorable week ...Lifestyle goes on, also in space. We are actually here to keep ... Frank.