.Publisher's Details: The following is the content of a letter from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reassessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not written very much concerning specifics of this particular mission in the course of the month I have actually been actually below, primarily for 2 explanations: the first being actually that there has been actually quite little bit of opportunity to carry out that sort of creating, and also the second thing is because I am actually uncertain just how pleasant I am actually discussing thought and feelings I share with friends and family along with the remainder of the globe.Effectively, certainly the world transformed today. What I state or perform is actually quite small reviewed to the importance of what took place to our country today when it was actually attacked by ... through whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I guess. Difficult to know at whom to route our temper and fear ...I had actually just finished a lot of jobs this morning, the most lengthy being the physical examinations of all team members. In an exclusive chat following that, the tour specialist informed me they were actually having a very bad time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He explained the circumstance to me as best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually shocked, then terrified. My first thought was that this wasn't an actual conversation, that I was still listening to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It only didn't seem to be possible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't even think of the details, also just before the news of more devastation began can be found in.Vladimir dropped in rather rapidly, sensing that one thing incredibly serious was being talked about. I swung Michael right into the component as well. They were actually additionally surprised and also stunned. After our experts signed off, I made an effort to reveal to Vladimir and Michael as finest I might the potential enormity of the show of fear in downtown New york as well as at the Pentagon. They plainly understood as well as were incredibly compassionate.I eyed the Globe Map on the computer to view where over the world our experts were and also saw that our experts were actually coming southeast away from Canada as well as would certainly be skipping New England in a handful of minutes. I zoomed around the station until I discovered a home window that would offer me a view of NYC as well as grabbed the nearest cam. It happened to become a video camera, and I was actually appearing southern from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have a strange flower to it at the foundation of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the urban area. After reading one of the newspaper article our company just obtained, I believe our company were taking a look at NY around the amount of time of, or quickly after, the collapse of the second high rise. Just how unpleasant ...I scanned the camera during the East Shore to the south to find if I could see any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was quite tough to think of work after that, though our team possessed some to perform, however on the upcoming orbit our experts crossed the US more south. All 3 people were actually working a couple of cameras to try to get views of Nyc or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, however no specific resource might be seen. Everything appeared amazing coming from two to three hundred miles away. I can not picture the awful settings on the ground.Other than the mental effect of our nation being actually tackled as well as countless our residents and perhaps some close friends being killed, the absolute most overwhelming sensation being actually where I am actually is just one of seclusion.Following time ... I reckon the tiredness and also mental tension obtained the best of me. I couldn't keep awake as well as remain to create. Today was still hard, however our company started acquiring even more information, plus we had the honor of talking straight along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground groups would certainly remain to function and also ensure our safety and security, in addition to the secure function of the Place. Our team also talked to our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Plan are actually all entirely dedicated to carrying on risk-free procedures and assistance. These were actually certainly never questions for me. I understand all these individuals! The ground groups have actually been incredibly helpful, incredibly understanding of the influence of the updates, and have attempted to become as valuable as feasible. They have actually all been very expert and concentrated though I can't picture the interruption of this particular type of updates being available in and the notion that federal government buildings might be vulnerable. They certainly never missed a beat, even when relocating nerve center. As well as a team of elderly employees and buddies offered our company a fairly in depth briefing about what was actually known and also what was actually being actually carried out in the authorities and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was very helpful and also type of all of them to carry out in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has additionally been actually supporting as well as beneficial, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our personal resources were inoperable, and also stating kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually excellent, too. They recognize it is actually been actually a difficult day for me and the folks on the ground, as well as they've attempted to become as even keeled and also handy as possible. Michael even fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. As well as they provide me lots of area to presume when I required it. They are very supportive as well as of course outraged at whoever would certainly perform this.I understand numerous people in Washington, many people who take a trip to DC and NYC, plenty of that are actually pilots, that I felt sure I would acquire at least a couple of parts of trouble over the next few times. I obtained the very first one today when I discovered that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that reached the Government was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I met Chic during the course of cadet summer months when our experts remained in the D&B together, and also we had great deals of lessons all together. I can't visualize what he needs to of looked at, as well as currently I hear that he may possess risen even more than we may also consider by potentially stopping his aircraft from being actually the one to tackle the White House. What an awful loss, yet I make sure Chic was actually battling bravely throughout. As well as rips don't move the same precede ...It's difficult to describe exactly how it feels to be the only United States completely off the world each time including this. The feeling that I should be there along with all of you, coping with this, aiding in some way, is actually frustrating. I understand that we perform the threshold (or even beyond) of a horrendous change in the history of the globe. Several points will definitely never coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the thousands and lots of people directly impacted through these hideous actions of violence, but possibly for we all. We will find ourselves experiencing in different ways about dozens of factors, consisting of probably space expedition, however.It is actually terrible to see smoke putting coming from injuries in your personal country from such a fantastic point of view. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft dedicated to strengthening life on the earth and watching lifestyle being ruined through such intentional, awful process is jolting to the mind, regardless of that you are. And the expertise that every little thing will certainly be different than when our team launched by the opportunity our company land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and also in our leadership that we are going to perform everything feasible to much better shield her as well as our households, and to carry fair treatment for what has been carried out. I possess peace of mind that the good people at NASA will definitely perform every little thing essential to proceed our purpose carefully and return us safely and securely at the right time. And I miss out on each of you very much. I can't be there with you personally, and our team possess a very long way to head to finish our objective, yet be certain that my soul is actually along with you, and understand you are in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final letter ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually an active week up listed below. And also to confirm that, like our country, our company are actually advancing our planned pathway with organization as usual (as long as achievable). Tonight the latest add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Area will be actually released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (US time), it will dock with our company, at a port never ever utilized just before on the nadir side of the Solution Component. This brand-new module will offer our team yet another place to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and also will definitely supply a big airlock along with pair of able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our company are going to do a few of just before our team come home.The issue prior to in handling today was actually insufficient news. The problem right now is actually excessive. It came at one time when email was actually rejuvenated, and there is actually not enough opportunity to read it all! Plus it's as well tough to manage all of it instantly. However I value obtaining it, and I actually cherish the excellent letters of help as well as relationship I am actually receiving.Our team are prospering on board, receiving our work carried out, and talking about traits. Last evening our team had a lengthy dialogue over supper regarding the importance of these events, the feasible activities to comply with, and also what ought to be actually performed. After supper, Michael resolved informing me that every email he acquired coming from pals in Russia said especially to tell me just how sorry they were that this taken place, prolonging their acknowledgements, and talking to just how I was doing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually considerably extremely long to articulate effortlessly.) Incredibly types individuals.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transmit real-time broadcasts of radio news concerning the occasion and also linked tales, to make sure I was well notified. Every specialist who has started free throw line to talk about an operation or a problem contends some point expanded greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that because of the special day of remembrance in the United States, all the time folks had actually been delivering blooms and edging all the wall structures of the United States embassy in Moscow, as well as this evening they were igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consular office. How the world has actually transformed.People almost everywhere seem to acknowledge the senselessness as well as horror in this particular assault. And also the incredible reduction. Moscow has managed these kind of concerns in the last handful of years with apartment and also metro battles, so they are actually as restless to do away with this hazard as our team are. However the bottom series is actually that there are actually great individuals everywhere that desire to live in calmness. I read through that a child talked to, "America is thus excellent to various other nations, we constantly aid every person, exactly how can they despise us a lot?".I wish the example of collaboration and also depend on that this space capsule and all individuals in the plan demonstrate daily are going to someday motivate the rest of the planet to function similarly. They must!However, our team will not be taking flight over the US during the time individuals are lighting candle lights. Do not understand if our company could possibly view that anyway. Our experts did, nevertheless, find a very unusual and lovely sight a couple of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were eclipsing it as well as it appeared concerning 3 moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sun hit our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It appeared like a big comet along with a right, large rear silhouetted against the dark earth under. Regardless of some negative illumination for a while as the sunshine attacked our window at a reduced angle, I took care of some online video of it as initially our team passed the rocket, and afterwards watched it begin to catch up as it acquired altitude as well as velocity. I recorded till principal motor cutoff and booster splitting up took place just as our experts came close to daybreak on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in a memorable full week ...Life happens, also in space. Our company are actually listed here to stay ... Frank.