.Publisher's Note: The following is actually the message of a letter coming from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reviewing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created quite concerning specifics of this objective during the month I've been listed here, mainly for two main reasons: the 1st being that there has been very little bit of time to do that sort of writing, and also also due to the fact that I'm not sure how comfortable I am actually sharing thought and feelings I share with friends and family with the remainder of the globe.Effectively, clearly the planet altered today. What I point out or even perform is extremely slight contrasted to the value of what happened to our nation today when it was struck by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suppose. Tough to recognize at whom to route our temper as well as concern ...I had simply ended up an amount of jobs today, one of the most taxing being the physical exams of all workers participants. In a private conversation observing that, the flight specialist told me they were actually possessing an incredibly poor day on the ground. I had no concept ...He illustrated the condition to me as greatest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually stunned, after that horrified. My initial thought and feelings was actually that this had not been a genuine conversation, that I was still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It merely didn't seem possible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even imagine the particulars, even prior to the information of additional damage began coming in.Vladimir came pretty quickly, picking up that one thing incredibly major was being explained. I waved Michael in to the element at the same time. They were likewise astounded as well as stunned. After our experts authorized off, I attempted to describe to Vladimir and Michael as finest I can the potential size of this particular show of terror in midtown New york and at the Government. They accurately knew as well as were quite compassionate.I eyed the Planet Chart on the computer to observe where over the world we were actually and also observed that our team were actually happening southeast away from Canada and will be actually overlooking New England in a few minutes. I zoomed around the terminal till I located a home window that would certainly provide me a viewpoint of NYC and nabbed the nearest cam. It occurred to become a camera, as well as I was actually looking south coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke appeared to possess a strange blossom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reading one of the news articles our experts merely acquired, I believe our company were considering NY around the moment of, or even quickly after, the collapse of the 2nd tower. Just how awful ...I scanned the camera during the East Coastline to the south to see if I could possibly see every other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing showed up.It was pretty hard to think of work afterwards, though we possessed some to perform, but on the next track our company went across the US further southern. All 3 of us were actually working one or two video cameras to attempt to obtain scenery of New York or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, but no particular resource can be found. It all appeared incredible coming from two to three hundred miles away. I can't picture the heartbreaking settings on the ground.Aside from the emotional impact of our nation being actually tackled and also lots of our citizens and possibly some pals being actually killed, the most overwhelming sensation being actually where I am actually is among seclusion.Following time ... I presume the exhaustion and psychological pressure received the best of me. I could not keep awake as well as remain to compose. Today was still hard, but our experts started getting more details, plus our team possessed the respect of chatting straight with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who assured our company that the ground crews will continue to function as well as ensure our protection, as well as the secure procedure of the Station. Our company additionally learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who added that the partners in the System are all completely committed to proceeding safe procedures and assistance. These were actually never inquiries for me. I understand all these folks! The ground teams have actually been actually unbelievably supportive, incredibly understanding of the impact of the news, and have actually tried to become as handy as achievable. They have all been actually extremely qualified and focused though I can't visualize the distraction of this particular type of headlines can be found in and the thought and feelings that authorities properties may be vulnerable. They certainly never avoided a beat, even when transferring control centers. And also a team of elderly workers and also buddies offered us a pretty extensive rundown on what was recognized as well as what was actually being done in the government and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was quite handy and sort of all of them to do in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has also been actually helpful as well as beneficial, trying to uplink newspaper article when our personal possessions were actually unusable, and stating kind words ...My crewmates have actually been actually terrific, also. They recognize it's been actually a hard time for me and the people on the ground, and also they have actually made an effort to be as even keeled and valuable as feasible. Michael even fixed me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. And they give me a lot of room to presume when I required it. They are actually very compassionate and of course shocked at whoever would perform this.I know numerous folks in Washington, plenty of people who journey to DC and also New York City, a lot of that are aviators, that I felt certain I would certainly acquire at the very least a few parts of bad news over the next handful of days. I received the initial one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that struck the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I met Chic during the course of cadet summertime when our company resided in the D&B all together, and we had considerable amounts of classes with each other. I can not picture what he has to of gone through, and now I listen to that he might possess increased additionally than our team may even think about through potentially preventing his plane coming from being actually the one to attack the White Property. What a terrible reduction, however I make certain Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. And also rips don't move the very same precede ...It is actually complicated to define just how it feels to be the only American fully off the earth at once such as this. The feeling that I need to be there along with every one of you, coping with this, assisting in some way, is difficult. I know that we are on the threshold (or even past) of a horrible shift in the background of the globe. Numerous things will never coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the 1000s and also lots of individuals directly affected by these hideous acts of violence, but possibly for everyone. Our team will certainly discover ourselves really feeling differently about loads of points, including most likely space exploration, regrettably.It is actually dreadful to see smoke cigarettes putting coming from cuts in your own country coming from such a wonderful perspective. The duality of performing a space capsule dedicated to boosting daily life on the earth and also seeing life being damaged by such unforced, awful acts is actually jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are actually. As well as the knowledge that whatever will definitely be actually various than when our experts launched due to the opportunity our company land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and in our management that our team will perform everything feasible to better protect her and our families, and also to bring justice for what has actually been actually done. I have confidence that the good folks at NASA will certainly perform every thing required to proceed our goal safely and return our company safely at the right time. And also I overlook each one of you quite. I can not be there along with you personally, as well as our company have a long way to head to complete our goal, however be actually specific that my heart is along with you, and also know you remain in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last character ... The good news is, it is actually been actually an occupied week up listed below. And to prove that, like our country, our company are actually advancing our designated course with service as usual (as high as achievable). Tonight the current addition to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment will certainly be actually launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (United States opportunity), it is going to dock along with our team, at a slot certainly never used before on the nadir side of the Service Module. This brand-new component will certainly provide us another location to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also are going to offer a big airlock with 2 useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our experts will certainly carry out a few of before our company get home.The problem prior to in taking care of today was actually inadequate information. The issue now is actually excessive. It came simultaneously when e-mail was actually recovered, and also there's not enough time to review everything! Plus it is actually also hard to cope with all of it instantly. However I appreciate acquiring it, and also I definitely value the excellent letters of assistance and companionship I am getting.Our team are prospering on board, acquiring our job done, and also speaking about traits. Last night our company had a long conversation over dinner regarding the value of these celebrations, the feasible activities to observe, as well as what must be carried out. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every e-mail he acquired coming from pals in Russia pointed out particularly to tell me exactly how regretful they were that this occurred, expanding their condolences, and also asking exactly how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian as well as the English words are actually much extremely long to articulate quickly.) Extremely kind individuals.For the last two days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit online broadcasts of radio news concerning the celebration and also associated accounts, to make certain I was actually well updated. Every professional who has begun free throw line to go over a technique or even a complication contends some factor stretched greetings to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that because of the wedding of remembrance in the United States, all day people had actually been actually carrying flowers and also edging all the wall surfaces of the US consular office in Moscow, and also this evening they were lighting candlesticks in the street outside the embassy. How the globe has actually transformed.Individuals anywhere seem to acknowledge the senselessness and also scary in this attack. And the significant reduction. Moscow has actually handled these sort of problems in the final couple of years with flat and also metro bombings, so they are actually as restless to remove this risk as our experts are actually. However all-time low line is that there are actually great individuals just about everywhere who intend to stay in tranquility. I read that a child inquired, "The United States is actually so excellent to other countries, our experts constantly aid everybody, just how can they dislike our company a lot?".I wish the example of cooperation as well as depend on that this space capsule and all the people in the program display daily are going to sooner or later encourage the rest of the globe to operate the same way. They must!Sadly, our experts won't be flighting over the US during the time folks are igniting candlesticks. Do not understand if our experts could possibly view that anyhow. Our company carried out, nevertheless, observe a really unusual and also attractive sight a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. We were actually eclipsing it and it came into view regarding three moments after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight struck our station, so it was still in the dark. It looked like a big comet along with a directly, broad tail silhouetted versus the darker planet below. Regardless of some bad lighting for a while as the sunlight hit our window at a reduced viewpoint, I handled some online video of it as to begin with we passed the rocket, and then enjoyed it begin to mesmerize as it obtained elevation and also speed. I shot up until primary motor deadline and also booster splitting up developed just like our team came close to sunrise on the Himalayas. A remarkable view in an unforgettable week ...Lifestyle takes place, even precede. We're listed below to stay ... Frank.