.Publisher's Note: The observing is the content of a letter from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed very much regarding specifics of the mission during the course of the month I have actually been right here, generally for 2 reasons: the first being that there has been really little bit of time to perform that kind of writing, and also also due to the fact that I'm uncertain exactly how pleasant I am sharing notions I show friends and family along with the rest of the globe.Effectively, obviously the planet modified today. What I point out or perform is actually quite slight reviewed to the value of what took place to our country today when it was actually attacked by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I guess. Challenging to know at whom to drive our anger and also fear ...I had merely completed a number of activities today, the absolute most lengthy being the physical exams of all workers participants. In an exclusive chat complying with that, the flight specialist told me they were actually having an incredibly poor time on the ground. I had no idea ...He illustrated the circumstance to me as best he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was stunned, after that terrified. My first thought was actually that this wasn't a real talk, that I was actually still paying attention to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It only failed to appear achievable on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even picture the details, even just before the headlines of additional devastation started coming in.Vladimir came by pretty quickly, picking up that something very major was actually being discussed. I swayed Michael into the module too. They were actually likewise impressed as well as stunned. After we signed off, I made an effort to explain to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I can the possible size of this particular show of terror in downtown New york and at the Pentagon. They clearly knew and also were actually very supportive.I browsed the World Map on the computer to see where over the world our company were actually and noticed that we were actually happening southeast out of Canada and will be passing over New England in a handful of minutes. I zoomed around the terminal up until I located a home window that will provide me a perspective of NYC as well as ordered the nearest camera. It happened to be a camera, as well as I was looking south coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to have an odd blossom to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the city. After going through some of the newspaper article our experts simply received, I believe we were looking at NY around the moment of, or even soon after, the crash of the second high rise. Exactly how terrible ...I panned the camera during the East Coastline to the south to see if I could observe every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was actually fairly complicated to deal with work after that, though our team possessed some to do, yet on the following track our team went across the United States more southern. All three people were functioning 1 or 2 electronic cameras to make an effort to obtain sights of New york city or even Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, however no certain resource can be viewed. It all looked unbelievable coming from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can't visualize the tragic scenes on the ground.Other than the psychological effect of our nation being dealt with and also countless our people as well as possibly some close friends being actually eliminated, the absolute most difficult sensation being where I am is one of solitude.Upcoming day ... I suspect the tiredness as well as mental strain got the very best of me. I couldn't remain awake as well as remain to create. Today was actually still hard, yet our company started obtaining additional relevant information, plus we had the honor of talking straight with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our company that the ground crews would remain to function and also ensure our security, in addition to the secure operation of the Station. We also talked to our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that included that the partners in the Plan are actually all absolutely dedicated to proceeding safe operations and also support. These were actually certainly never concerns for me. I recognize all these folks! The ground staffs have been extremely encouraging, incredibly understanding of the influence of the news, as well as have actually made an effort to become as practical as achievable. They have actually all been actually very professional as well as concentrated though I can not envision the distraction of this sort of information can be found in and also the thought that federal government structures might be vulnerable. They certainly never skipped a beat, also when relocating nerve center. And also a group of senior workers and also good friends provided our team a pretty thorough instruction about what was known as well as what was being actually carried out in the government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was quite handy and also type of all of them to accomplish in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has additionally been actually supporting and helpful, making an effort to uplink news articles when our very own assets were unusable, and also claiming kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been excellent, as well. They understand it is actually been a difficult time for me and the people on the ground, and they've tried to be as even keeled as well as beneficial as feasible. Michael even corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. And also they give me loads of space to think when I required it. They are really compassionate and also of course shocked at whoever would perform this.I recognize plenty of individuals in Washington, so many people that take a trip to DC as well as NYC, many that are flies, that I really felt sure I would acquire at least a couple of parts of trouble over the upcoming few times. I acquired the very first one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that hit the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I met Chic throughout cadet summer season when our company remained in the D&B together, and our company had lots of lessons with each other. I can not picture what he has to of experienced, and also currently I hear that he might possess increased additionally than our team can also think of through possibly preventing his airplane coming from being the one to attack the White Property. What a horrible loss, however I make certain Chic was actually battling fearlessly to the end. And also rips do not flow the exact same in space ...It's complicated to illustrate exactly how it feels to become the only United States completely off the earth each time like this. The emotion that I should exist along with each one of you, managing this, aiding somehow, is overwhelming. I know that our company perform the limit (or beyond) of a terrible change in the background of the world. Numerous points will never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the manies thousand and thousands of folks straight had an effect on through these horrendous actions of terrorism, yet perhaps for everybody. We will find our own selves experiencing in different ways regarding loads of factors, including probably area exploration, however.It's unpleasant to find smoke cigarettes pouring coming from cuts in your very own nation coming from such a great point of view. The duality of performing a space probe dedicated to strengthening everyday life on the earth and checking out lifestyle being actually destroyed by such witting, horrendous process is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of who you are. And also the knowledge that every thing will certainly be different than when our experts introduced by the time we land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country and also in our management that we will definitely do every little thing feasible to better shield her and our households, and also to deliver compensation of what has actually been actually carried out. I possess peace of mind that the good individuals at NASA will certainly perform every thing necessary to continue our goal securely as well as return our team safely at the correct time. And I skip each one of you very much. I can not exist along with you face to face, and also our company possess a long way to go to accomplish our goal, however be certain that my heart is along with you, and also recognize you are in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last character ... Luckily, it's been a busy full week up right here. And also to show that, like our country, our experts are actually continuing on our desired path along with company customarily (as long as possible). Tonight the most recent add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment will be introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (United States time), it will definitely dock with our company, at a port never used just before on the low point side of the Solution Element. This brand new module will offer us one more place to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also will certainly supply a huge airlock with pair of useable hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our company will carry out a few of before we return.The concern before in coping with this week was actually inadequate information. The trouble today is actually way too much. It arrived at one time when email was brought back, and there's insufficient time to review everything! Plus it's as well hard to cope with all of it at once. However I appreciate receiving it, as well as I actually cherish the wonderful characters of assistance and friendly relationship I am actually receiving.We are actually succeeding aboard, acquiring our job done, and speaking about points. Final night our experts possessed a lengthy discussion over dinner about the importance of these activities, the feasible activities to follow, as well as what need to be actually carried out. After dinner, Michael made a point of telling me that every e-mail he received from close friends in Russia mentioned primarily to inform me how regretful they were actually that this happened, stretching their acknowledgements, as well as talking to just how I was actually performing. Vladimir educated me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are a lot too long to verbalize effortlessly.) Quite types individuals.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit online programs of radio news about the activity and connected accounts, to see to it I was actually well educated. Every professional that has actually begun the line to discuss a procedure or a complication contends some factor prolonged hellos to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that because of the big day of remembrance in the United States, all the time people had been taking blossoms and also edging all the walls of the United States consulate in Moscow, and this night they were actually lighting candles in the street outside the consulate. Exactly how the world has actually transformed.Individuals anywhere appear to recognize the senselessness and also horror in this attack. And the tremendous reduction. Moscow has handled these kind of troubles in the final few years with condo and subway bombings, so they are actually as restless to remove this risk as we are actually. But the bottom product line is actually that there are actually excellent individuals all over that intend to live in tranquility. I check out that a youngster asked, "The United States is so good to various other nations, we always aid everyone, how can they hate us a great deal?".I hope the example of cooperation as well as count on that this space probe plus all the people in the plan demonstrate daily will at some point encourage the remainder of the globe to operate similarly. They must!Regrettably, we will not be actually taking flight over the US during the time folks are actually igniting candlesticks. Do not know if our team could see that anyway. We did, nonetheless, observe a quite unique and beautiful sight a handful of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. We were eclipsing it and also it appeared regarding three moments after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine struck our station, so it was actually still unaware. It appeared like a big comet along with a straight, wide tail silhouetted against the dark earth under. In spite of some bad illumination for a while as the sun struck our window at a reduced angle, I handled some online video of it as initially we passed the spacecraft, and after that saw it begin to catch up as it acquired elevation and speed. I recorded until major engine deadline and enhancer splitting up happened just as our experts came close to sunup on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in an unforgettable full week ...Life takes place, even in space. Our team're listed below to keep ... Frank.