.Publisher's Keep in mind: The complying with is actually the text message of a letter coming from Trip 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reassessing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed significantly about specifics of this particular objective in the course of the month I've been actually right here, mostly for 2 explanations: the very first being that there has actually been extremely little opportunity to carry out that sort of composing, and also furthermore, given that I am actually not exactly sure just how comfy I am sharing notions I show to friends and family along with the rest of the globe.Effectively, undoubtedly the globe altered today. What I mention or even perform is quite minor reviewed to the importance of what occurred to our nation today when it was attacked through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we know, I presume. Difficult to understand at whom to drive our rage as well as worry ...I had merely completed an amount of tasks this morning, the absolute most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all workers participants. In a private discussion following that, the flight plastic surgeon informed me they were having a really negative time on the ground. I had no idea ...He explained the situation to me as absolute best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually flabbergasted, at that point terrified. My initial idea was actually that this wasn't an actual conversation, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to seem to be possible on this scale in our country. I could not even envision the details, even prior to the information of additional destruction began being available in.Vladimir came over quite swiftly, picking up that one thing quite major was being actually explained. I swung Michael into the component also. They were additionally surprised and stunned. After we signed off, I made an effort to describe to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I could the potential enormity of this particular show of horror in midtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They plainly understood as well as were incredibly compassionate.I glanced at the Globe Map on the personal computer to see where over the planet we were as well as discovered that our experts were actually happening southeast away from Canada and would certainly be actually skipping New England in a few moments. I zoomed around the station up until I located a home window that would offer me a scenery of New York City and also took hold of the nearest camera. It took place to become a video camera, and also I was looking south coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess an odd blossom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the area. After reviewing some of the news articles our team only received, I believe our experts were actually examining NY around the time of, or even soon after, the failure of the 2nd high rise. Just how unpleasant ...I swept the video camera all along the East Shoreline to the south to observe if I can view any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet nothing at all showed up.It was actually pretty complicated to consider work after that, though we had some to perform, yet on the next track our team crossed the United States additional south. All 3 of us were actually functioning one or two cams to try to obtain viewpoints of New york city or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, but no certain resource may be viewed. It all looked awesome from a couple of hundred miles away. I can not envision the tragic settings on the ground.Aside from the mental impact of our country being dealt with as well as countless our citizens and also maybe some buddies being actually gotten rid of, the best mind-boggling sensation being where I am is among isolation.Next day ... I suppose the tiredness and emotional stress got the greatest of me. I could not stay awake and continue to write. Today was actually still hard, yet our company started obtaining more info, plus our company possessed the respect of talking straight with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who assured our team that the ground groups would certainly continue to function as well as guarantee our security, and also the secure function of the Place. Our company additionally heard from our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the partners in the Program are actually all absolutely devoted to proceeding safe procedures as well as assistance. These were certainly never inquiries for me. I know all these individuals! The ground staffs have been surprisingly supportive, incredibly understanding of the impact of the headlines, as well as have made an effort to be as beneficial as feasible. They have actually all been actually extremely professional and also focused though I can not picture the interruption of this particular sort of news can be found in and also the thought that authorities structures could be in danger. They never bypassed a beat, even when moving control centers. As well as a group of elderly workers and also friends provided our company a fairly complete rundown about what was actually understood and also what was being actually done in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually incredibly beneficial and type of all of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has also been actually encouraging and helpful, trying to uplink newspaper article when our own assets were actually unusable, and also pointing out kind words ...My crewmates have been terrific, also. They recognize it's been actually a tough time for me and the people on the ground, and they have actually made an effort to be as even keeled as well as beneficial as possible. Michael also fixed me my favored Borscht soup for supper. And they give me loads of space to assume when I needed it. They are actually incredibly thoughtful and also naturally shocked at whoever would perform this.I recognize numerous people in Washington, numerous folks that travel to DC as well as New York City, many that are actually aviators, that I felt sure I would certainly obtain at the very least a few pieces of bad news over the following couple of days. I acquired the very first one today when I knew that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that hit the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I met Chic throughout plebe summer season when our company resided in the D&B with each other, and our team had lots of training class with each other. I can't picture what he should of gone through, and also right now I hear that he might have risen even further than our experts may even consider through probably preventing his airplane from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a horrendous loss, however I make certain Chic was battling fearlessly throughout. And tears do not move the same in space ...It's difficult to define how it experiences to become the only American completely off the earth at once such as this. The sensation that I should be there along with every one of you, dealing with this, assisting in some way, is actually overwhelming. I understand that we perform the limit (or even beyond) of a terrible change in the background of the planet. Numerous points will certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the thousands and 1000s of people directly affected through these hideous acts of violence, however possibly for we all. Our team will certainly locate ourselves experiencing in different ways regarding lots of things, featuring most likely space expedition, regrettably.It is actually awful to observe smoke pouring from injuries in your very own country from such an excellent perspective. The dichotomy of performing a spacecraft committed to strengthening live on the earth and also enjoying lifestyle being ruined by such purposeful, terrible process is actually jolting to the psyche, no matter that you are. And the expertise that every little thing will be various than when our team released due to the opportunity we land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and in our leadership that our team will certainly perform every thing achievable to far better shield her and also our families, as well as to deliver justice of what has actually been carried out. I possess peace of mind that the really good people at NASA will certainly carry out every little thing important to continue our goal carefully and also return us carefully at the right time. As well as I skip every one of you quite. I can't be there along with you in person, as well as our team have a very long way to go to finish our objective, yet be actually particular that my heart is actually with you, and understand you remain in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... The good news is, it is actually been a busy full week up listed below. As well as to prove that, like our country, our team are continuing our intended path with organization customarily (as much as possible). Tonight the most up to date enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Area will definitely be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States opportunity), it will certainly dock along with our company, at a port never utilized before on the low point side of the Solution Component. This new module will definitely offer our company an additional spot to dock a Development or Soyuz and also are going to provide a large airlock along with pair of able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our experts will definitely do a few of prior to our team get back.The concern just before in managing recently was actually too little news. The complication today is actually excessive. It came at one time when e-mail was repaired, as well as there is actually not nearly enough opportunity to read it all! Plus it is actually too hard to manage all of it immediately. But I value acquiring it, and also I truly cherish the excellent characters of help and also companionship I am acquiring.Our experts are actually prospering aboard, getting our job performed, and speaking about points. Final night our team had a lengthy conversation over dinner regarding the importance of these celebrations, the possible activities to follow, and also what must be actually done. After supper, Michael resolved telling me that every email he got from pals in Russia mentioned particularly to inform me exactly how regretful they were that this taken place, prolonging their condolences, and also inquiring exactly how I was actually doing. Vladimir showed me the Russian term for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are considerably very long to pronounce effortlessly.) Very kind people.For the last 2 times, the Russian MCC has been good enough to transfer live programs of radio updates regarding the celebration and connected accounts, to be sure I was actually properly updated. Every expert that has come on free throw line to cover an operation or even an issue has at some aspect stretched greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that as a result of the big day of remembrance in the US, throughout the day people had been actually taking florals and lining all the wall surfaces of the United States embassy in Moscow, and also this night they were lighting candle lights in the street outside the consular office. Exactly how the world has transformed.Folks everywhere seem to be to realize the senselessness and also horror in this attack. And also the remarkable loss. Moscow has taken care of these kind of complications in the final couple of years along with apartment or condo as well as train bombings, so they are as troubled to remove this threat as we are actually. But the bottom product line is actually that there are actually really good folks everywhere that desire to reside in tranquility. I read through that a kid talked to, "The United States is so great to other nations, we consistently help everybody, exactly how can they loathe our team a lot?".I wish the instance of collaboration and also trust that this space capsule and all the people in the course display daily will someday influence the remainder of the globe to work the same way. They must!Regrettably, our company will not be actually flying over the US during the time individuals are actually igniting candles. Don't recognize if our company can see that anyhow. Our company carried out, having said that, observe an extremely uncommon as well as beautiful view a couple of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. We were actually surpassing it and also it emerged concerning three mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our terminal, so it was still unaware. It resembled a big comet along with a directly, large rear silhouetted against the dark planet underneath. Even with some bad illumination for a while as the sunlight attacked our window at a low position, I handled some online video of it as initially our experts passed the spacecraft, and afterwards enjoyed it start to mesmerize as it got altitude as well as speed. I recorded until main motor deadline and also booster separation took place equally as we approached dawn on the Himalayas. An extraordinary sight in an extraordinary full week ...Lifestyle takes place, even precede. Our experts are actually right here to remain ... Frank.