.Editor's Keep in mind: The observing is actually the text of a letter coming from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reflecting on the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created quite about specifics of the goal in the course of the month I've been here, mostly for 2 causes: the 1st being actually that there has been incredibly little bit of time to carry out that sort of writing, as well as the second thing is since I am actually uncertain how pleasant I am discussing thought and feelings I provide friends and family with the remainder of the globe.Properly, certainly the world changed today. What I state or even carry out is extremely small matched up to the value of what happened to our country today when it was assaulted through ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we know, I think. Tough to recognize at whom to point our temper and anxiety ...I had actually merely ended up a variety of tasks this morning, the absolute most time-consuming being the physical examinations of all crew members. In a personal talk observing that, the tour specialist told me they were having a very bad time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He defined the condition to me as ideal he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was flabbergasted, then horrified. My initial thought and feelings was that this wasn't a real chat, that I was still listening to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It just didn't seem to be achievable on this scale in our country. I could not even picture the particulars, also prior to the information of more damage started coming in.Vladimir came by fairly rapidly, noticing that something quite significant was actually being talked about. I waved Michael into the module at the same time. They were actually additionally astounded and stunned. After our team signed off, I attempted to describe to Vladimir and also Michael as ideal I can the prospective enormity of the show of terror in downtown New york and also at the Pentagon. They precisely knew and were really understanding.I eyed the World Chart on the pc to view where over the planet our company were and noticed that our team were happening southeast out of Canada as well as would certainly be actually skipping New England in a handful of mins. I zoomed around the terminal up until I located a home window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City as well as ordered the closest video camera. It took place to become a camera, as well as I was actually appearing southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke appeared to possess an odd flower to it at the base of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the city. After reading some of the newspaper article our team simply acquired, I think our company were actually considering NY around the time of, or soon after, the crash of the 2nd high rise. How awful ...I panned the cam during the East Shoreline to the south to find if I might find every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing was visible.It was quite difficult to deal with work afterwards, though our company had some to do, but on the following track our team went across the United States more south. All 3 of us were functioning a couple of cameras to try to get scenery of The big apple or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no details source may be viewed. All of it appeared astonishing coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not think of the unfortunate settings on the ground.Aside from the emotional influence of our nation being attacked and countless our consumers as well as perhaps some close friends being actually eliminated, one of the most difficult sensation being where I am is just one of seclusion.Following day ... I suspect the exhaustion and also psychological pressure got the most ideal of me. I couldn't keep awake and also remain to write. Today was still hard, but our company started acquiring even more information, plus we had the respect of chatting straight with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who assured our company that the ground teams will remain to operate as well as ensure our security, in addition to the secure function of the Place. Our team additionally learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the partners in the Course are actually all totally devoted to continuing secure functions and help. These were never questions for me. I know all these folks! The ground staffs have actually been actually very supporting, really understanding of the impact of the news, and also have actually tried to be as beneficial as achievable. They have all been actually really specialist and also centered though I can not imagine the interruption of the sort of updates can be found in and the idea that federal government properties may be at risk. They certainly never missed a beat, also when moving nerve center. And a team of senior staffs as well as close friends gave our team a rather in depth rundown about what was actually known and what was being actually done in the government as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually quite handy and sort of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually also been actually encouraging as well as handy, trying to uplink news articles when our own possessions were unusable, and claiming kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually terrific, also. They recognize it is actually been a difficult time for me as well as the folks on the ground, and also they've attempted to be as also keeled and practical as feasible. Michael also corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. As well as they give me a lot of room to believe when I required it. They are actually incredibly understanding and also certainly outraged at whoever will perform this.I understand numerous folks in Washington, so many individuals that journey to DC and also NYC, many that are actually pilots, that I experienced certain I would receive a minimum of a few parts of trouble over the following handful of days. I acquired the initial one today when I knew that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I came across Chic in the course of cadet summer season when our team resided in the D&B together, and also our team had tons of training class with each other. I can't envision what he needs to of experienced, as well as right now I hear that he might have increased additionally than we can easily also consider by probably avoiding his aircraft coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Property. What a terrible loss, however I make sure Chic was actually dealing with bravely throughout. And also tears do not stream the very same in space ...It is actually difficult to describe exactly how it experiences to be the only United States fully off the world at once including this. The feeling that I ought to be there along with each one of you, coping with this, assisting in some way, is actually frustrating. I know that our experts are on the threshold (or past) of a horrible shift in the past history of the globe. Many factors will definitely certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the manies thousand and also lots of folks directly affected through these hideous actions of violence, but perhaps for everybody. Our experts are going to locate ourselves feeling in different ways concerning dozens of points, featuring most likely area exploration, regrettably.It's dreadful to see smoke putting from injuries in your own country from such a great vantage point. The duality of being on a space probe committed to enhancing daily life on the earth as well as viewing life being destroyed through such deliberate, terrible actions is jolting to the subconscious, no matter that you are. As well as the understanding that every little thing will certainly be different than when our team released by the time our team land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our nation and in our leadership that our team will certainly carry out whatever achievable to much better guard her as well as our families, and to bring compensation of what has been actually carried out. I possess assurance that the great folks at NASA will perform whatever important to continue our purpose carefully and also return our company properly at the right time. And I overlook each of you very much. I can't exist along with you in person, as well as our experts have a long way to visit accomplish our goal, however be actually certain that my soul is actually along with you, and also recognize you reside in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final character ... Luckily, it is actually been an occupied full week up listed here. As well as to show that, like our nation, we are actually continuing our desired road with company as usual (as long as feasible). Tonight the most recent addition to the place, the Russian Docking Area are going to be actually introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States time), it will definitely dock along with our company, at a slot never ever made use of just before on the low point edge of the Company Element. This brand new element will certainly provide our company another area to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and also are going to provide a huge airlock along with pair of useable hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our team will definitely do a few of just before our team return.The concern before in managing this week was too little information. The trouble now is actually excessive. It came all at once when email was recovered, and also there is actually inadequate time to review it all! Plus it's as well difficult to take care of all of it immediately. Yet I value receiving it, as well as I definitely appreciate the fantastic letters of support and friendship I am getting.We are succeeding on board, getting our work performed, and talking about factors. Final night we possessed a long conversation over supper concerning the implication of these occasions, the achievable actions to observe, and what should be done. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every email he got coming from close friends in Russia pointed out specifically to inform me just how sorry they were actually that this taken place, prolonging their condolences, as well as asking how I was carrying out. Vladimir educated me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are considerably very long to verbalize conveniently.) Extremely types people.For the final two times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to send real-time broadcasts of radio information about the activity and also affiliated accounts, to see to it I was actually effectively updated. Every expert that has actually started free throw line to explain an operation or a complication contends some aspect stretched hellos to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our team that due to the wedding day of recognition in the United States, all day folks had actually been carrying blooms and also edging all the wall surfaces of the US consulate in Moscow, and also this evening they were lighting candlesticks in the street outside the consulate. Exactly how the globe has actually modified.People all over seem to acknowledge the senselessness and also scary within this attack. And the significant loss. Moscow has actually dealt with these sort of troubles in the last handful of years along with flat and metro bombings, so they are actually as restless to get rid of this hazard as our experts are actually. However the bottom line is that there are actually really good people all over that desire to reside in calmness. I go through that a child asked, "United States is therefore excellent to other countries, our team consistently assist everybody, exactly how can they detest our company a lot?".I hope the instance of participation and also trust fund that this space capsule and all individuals in the plan illustrate daily are going to one day encourage the rest of the planet to operate the same way. They must!However, our team will not be taking flight over the US while people are igniting candles. Don't know if our company could possibly see that anyhow. Our team carried out, nonetheless, find a very uncommon and gorgeous sight a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were actually surpassing it and also it came into view about 3 moments after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunlight hit our terminal, so it was actually still unaware. It seemed like a big comet along with a right, vast tail silhouetted versus the black planet beneath. Regardless of some poor lighting for some time as the sun reached our window at a low position, I took care of some video of it as initially we passed the rocket, and then saw it start to catch up as it gained height as well as speed. I recorded until main engine cutoff and booster splitting up took place just like we approached dawn on the Himalayas. A memorable view in an unforgettable week ...Life takes place, even precede. Our experts're here to stay ... Frank.