.Publisher's Keep in mind: The following is actually the content of a letter coming from Expedition Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reassessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed quite about specifics of this particular mission throughout the month I've been actually right here, generally for pair of reasons: the 1st being actually that there has actually been very little opportunity to carry out that type of composing, and the second thing is considering that I am actually unsure how comfortable I am actually discussing thoughts I show to family and friends along with the remainder of the globe.Properly, definitely the world altered today. What I point out or even carry out is actually very slight compared to the significance of what happened to our nation today when it was actually assaulted through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I suppose. Hard to understand at whom to route our anger as well as worry ...I had just finished an amount of duties this morning, the most taxing being the physical exams of all crew members. In a private chat complying with that, the air travel cosmetic surgeon informed me they were actually possessing a very bad day on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He explained the condition to me as absolute best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually stunned, after that horrified. My first notion was actually that this wasn't a real conversation, that I was still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just really did not seem feasible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't also think of the particulars, also before the updates of additional devastation started coming in.Vladimir came by fairly quickly, picking up that one thing really serious was actually being gone over. I waved Michael in to the component at the same time. They were actually likewise amazed and also stunned. After we signed off, I attempted to discuss to Vladimir and also Michael as best I might the prospective immensity of this show of horror in downtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They precisely understood and also were actually extremely thoughtful.I eyed the Globe Chart on the computer system to observe where over the globe our company were as well as discovered that our experts were coming southeast out of Canada as well as will be actually skipping New England in a handful of moments. I zoomed around the terminal till I discovered a window that would certainly offer me a scenery of New York City as well as got the nearest video camera. It happened to be a camera, and I was looking southern coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to be to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reviewing among the news articles our experts merely acquired, I believe our company were actually examining NY around the time of, or even quickly after, the collapse of the second high rise. Just how awful ...I panned the video camera the whole time the East Coast to the south to find if I could possibly find any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing showed up.It was fairly challenging to think about job afterwards, though our team had some to do, yet on the upcoming track our team traversed the United States further south. All 3 of us were operating a couple of video cameras to make an effort to get sights of The big apple or even Washington. There was haze over Washington, however no details resource may be observed. Everything looked awesome from a couple of hundred miles away. I can't envision the terrible scenes on the ground.Other than the emotional influence of our nation being actually tackled and lots of our consumers as well as perhaps some buddies being gotten rid of, one of the most difficult sensation being actually where I am actually is one of solitude.Following day ... I reckon the exhaustion and also emotional strain obtained the greatest of me. I couldn't remain awake and also continue to create. Today was actually still complicated, however our team started getting even more relevant information, plus we possessed the tribute of chatting straight along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who ensured our company that the ground groups would certainly remain to function and also guarantee our safety, along with the risk-free procedure of the Place. Our experts also learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the Program are all absolutely committed to continuing secure functions and also assistance. These were never questions for me. I understand all these folks! The ground staffs have actually been actually incredibly encouraging, incredibly understanding of the effect of the information, and also have made an effort to be as helpful as achievable. They have all been really professional and concentrated though I can not imagine the distraction of the form of headlines coming in and also the thought and feelings that federal government buildings could be vulnerable. They never ever bypassed a beat, even when moving nerve center. And a group of elderly workers and close friends offered our company a rather in depth briefing on what was actually understood as well as what was actually being actually done in the government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually extremely practical as well as sort of them to accomplish in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been encouraging as well as practical, trying to uplink news articles when our very own assets were actually unusable, and also saying kind phrases ...My crewmates have been actually fantastic, too. They recognize it is actually been a challenging time for me as well as the folks on the ground, as well as they have actually attempted to be as also keeled and also practical as possible. Michael also fixed me my favored Borscht soup for supper. And also they offer me plenty of room to believe when I required it. They are incredibly compassionate and also certainly outraged at whoever would perform this.I understand so many individuals in Washington, so many individuals who journey to DC and New York City, so many that are flies, that I experienced certain I would acquire at least a couple of items of bad news over the next couple of days. I acquired the 1st one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I came across Chic throughout plebe summertime when our team were in the D&B together, as well as our team possessed tons of courses all together. I can't imagine what he has to of undergone, and also currently I hear that he may have risen even more than our company can even think about through possibly preventing his plane from being the one to attack the White House. What a horrible reduction, but I make certain Chic was battling fearlessly throughout. And splits do not stream the very same in space ...It's tough to define exactly how it feels to be the only United States entirely off the planet at a time like this. The feeling that I must exist with every one of you, coping with this, assisting somehow, is actually overwhelming. I understand that we perform the threshold (or beyond) of a dreadful switch in the history of the globe. Several factors will never ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the 1000s and 1000s of people straight had an effect on through these horrible actions of terrorism, yet most likely for everybody. Our experts are going to locate ourselves experiencing in a different way about loads of things, featuring most likely room exploration, regrettably.It's terrible to see smoke cigarettes putting from cuts in your personal country from such a wonderful vantage point. The duality of being on a spacecraft devoted to enhancing live on the earth as well as checking out life being damaged by such conscious, dreadful actions is jolting to the subconscious, despite that you are. And also the know-how that everything are going to be various than when our company 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 perform every thing possible to much better shield her and our households, and to carry compensation for what has been done. I possess peace of mind that the really good folks at NASA will carry out every little thing necessary to continue our mission safely as well as return our company securely at the right time. As well as I miss each one of you very much. I can't be there with you personally, and we possess a long way to go to complete our goal, but be actually certain that my heart is actually along with you, and also know you reside in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last character ... Thankfully, it's been actually an occupied full week up below. As well as to show that, like our nation, our experts are actually continuing on our planned course along with company as usual (as much as achievable). Tonight the current add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment will certainly be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States time), it is going to dock along with us, at a port never ever utilized before on the low point side of the Company Component. This brand-new module will give our company another place to dock a Development or even Soyuz and are going to provide a sizable airlock along with pair of useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which our company will carry out a few of prior to we get back.The problem prior to in managing recently was actually inadequate information. The problem right now is excessive. It arrived simultaneously when email was restored, as well as there is actually not enough opportunity to review it all! Plus it's as well difficult to manage all of it immediately. But I appreciate obtaining it, as well as I actually cherish the fantastic characters of support and friendship I am actually getting.Our experts are actually succeeding on board, getting our job performed, and also discussing points. Last evening we had a lengthy conversation over supper about the value of these activities, the feasible activities to adhere to, and also what ought to be carried out. After dinner, Michael made a point of informing me that every e-mail he acquired coming from buddies in Russia pointed out primarily to inform me exactly how regretful they were actually that this happened, stretching their acknowledgements, as well as inquiring exactly how I was doing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually much very lengthy to articulate simply.) Really kind people.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has been good enough to send live shows of radio information regarding the celebration and also affiliated accounts, to see to it I was effectively updated. Every professional that has actually started the line to explain a technique or a trouble contends some aspect stretched greetings to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that due to the wedding day of recognition in the United States, all the time individuals had actually been actually taking blossoms as well as lining all the wall structures of the United States consulate in Moscow, and this evening they were lighting candles in the road outside the consulate. Just how the globe has altered.Folks everywhere seem to recognize the senselessness as well as scary within this attack. And the remarkable reduction. Moscow has actually dealt with these kind of concerns in the final few years with condo and also train bombings, so they are actually as distressed to eliminate this danger as our team are actually. But the bottom series is actually that there are really good individuals everywhere who intend to reside in calmness. I check out that a kid asked, "America is therefore really good to various other nations, our experts constantly help everyone, how can they detest our team so much?".I really hope the example of teamwork and also trust fund that this space capsule plus all the people in the course illustrate daily will at some point motivate the remainder of the globe to function similarly. They must!Sadly, our company will not be flying over the United States while individuals are actually lighting candle lights. Don't understand if we can observe that anyhow. Our experts carried out, nonetheless, observe an extremely uncommon as well as lovely view a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our team were actually surpassing it and it appeared concerning 3 moments after its launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our terminal, so it was still unaware. It resembled a huge comet along with a straight, large rear silhouetted versus the dark world under. Regardless of some bad lighting fixtures for a while as the sun struck our home window at a low angle, I handled some video recording of it as initially we passed the rocket, and afterwards saw it start to catch up as it acquired height and rate. I filmed up until principal motor cutoff and enhancer splitting up occurred equally as our company moved toward daybreak on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in an extraordinary full week ...Life takes place, even in space. Our company are actually here to stay ... Frank.