.Editor's Keep in mind: The observing is the text message of a character from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reviewing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed significantly concerning specifics of this objective in the course of the month I have actually been listed below, generally for 2 main reasons: the 1st being that there has been incredibly little opportunity to accomplish that kind of creating, and also furthermore, because I am actually uncertain exactly how pleasant I am actually sharing thoughts I show to friends and family with the rest of the globe.Effectively, clearly the world modified today. What I state or even do is quite minor reviewed to the implication of what took place to our country today when it was actually struck by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I reckon. Hard to recognize at whom to guide our temper and worry ...I had actually only finished an amount of duties this morning, the most lengthy being the physical exams of all team participants. In a personal discussion complying with that, the air travel specialist informed me they were actually possessing a very bad time on the ground. I had no idea ...He described the scenario to me as finest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually stunned, then horrified. My very first thought was that this had not been a genuine conversation, that I was still listening closely to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely didn't appear achievable on this scale in our country. I couldn't even imagine the details, also before the headlines of more destruction began being available in.Vladimir dropped in rather promptly, sensing that one thing very major was actually being actually reviewed. I swung Michael in to the component also. They were actually additionally astonished and also stunned. After we signed off, I tried to explain to Vladimir and also Michael as greatest I can the potential enormity of the act of terror in downtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They clearly understood and also were actually quite thoughtful.I browsed the Planet Chart on the computer system to observe where over the planet our team were and noticed that our experts were actually happening southeast away from Canada and would be actually passing over New England in a few mins. I whized around the station up until I discovered a home window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City and ordered the nearby electronic camera. It happened to be a video camera, and also I was actually appearing south from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to have a weird flower to it at the base of the pillar that was streaming south of the area. After reviewing one of the newspaper article our experts just got, I believe our team were actually taking a look at NY around the amount of time of, or even soon after, the crash of the second high rise. Exactly how dreadful ...I panned the video camera all along the East Shore to the south to observe if I could possibly see every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing showed up.It was rather hard to deal with job after that, though our team possessed some to perform, however on the next orbit our company went across the United States further south. All 3 of us were actually working one or two electronic cameras to try to acquire views of New york city or Washington. There was haze over Washington, yet no particular source can be observed. Everything looked awesome coming from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can not think of the awful settings on the ground.Apart from the psychological effect of our country being attacked and countless our consumers and perhaps some pals being gotten rid of, the most difficult emotion being where I am actually is among seclusion.Following day ... I suppose the exhaustion as well as emotional tension received the greatest of me. I couldn't remain awake and also continue to compose. Today was still hard, yet our company began getting additional information, plus we possessed the tribute of talking directly with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our company that the ground crews would continue to function and also ensure our safety and security, as well as the safe function of the Place. Our company likewise learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the Program are actually all entirely dedicated to continuing secure procedures and also support. These were actually never ever questions for me. I know all these people! The ground staffs have actually been incredibly supportive, incredibly understanding of the influence of the news, and also have actually tried to be as helpful as achievable. They have all been incredibly expert as well as concentrated though I can not think of the diversion of this sort of news can be found in as well as the thought that authorities structures could be in jeopardy. They never bypassed a beat, even when relocating nerve center. And a group of elderly employees as well as good friends offered our company a quite extensive rundown about what was understood as well as what was being carried out in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually incredibly handy as well as sort of them to do in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been actually encouraging and helpful, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own properties were unusable, as well as saying kind terms ...My crewmates have been excellent, too. They recognize it is actually been actually a difficult time for me as well as the folks on the ground, and they have actually made an effort to become as also keeled as well as useful as feasible. Michael also corrected me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me a lot of space to presume when I required it. They are really compassionate as well as naturally shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I recognize so many individuals in Washington, many folks that journey to DC as well as New York City, a lot of who are actually captains, that I really felt sure I would certainly receive at the very least a couple of items of trouble over the upcoming handful of days. I obtained the very first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I met Chic throughout cadet summer season when our company remained in the D&B with each other, and our experts had lots of lessons all together. I can not envision what he must of gone through, and currently I hear that he might possess climbed even further than we may even think about through potentially stopping his plane coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Property. What a horrendous reduction, yet I'm sure Chic was actually dealing with bravely to the end. And also tears don't stream the exact same in space ...It is actually complicated to describe how it experiences to become the only American entirely off the world at once including this. The emotion that I should exist along with every one of you, managing this, aiding somehow, is mind-boggling. I know that our company perform the threshold (or even beyond) of an awful switch in the past history of the world. Several traits will never ever coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Not only for the 1000s and lots of people straight affected by these hideous process of terrorism, yet probably for all of us. Our team will definitely discover ourselves experiencing in different ways regarding dozens of things, featuring possibly area exploration, however.It is actually horrendous to see smoke cigarettes pouring from wounds in your own nation coming from such an excellent angle. The duality of getting on a space probe dedicated to strengthening live on the earth and also watching lifestyle being actually damaged through such unforced, horrible acts is actually jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are. And also the understanding that whatever will definitely be actually various than when our experts introduced due to the time our experts land is a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and also in our management that our experts will definitely carry out whatever feasible to far better shield her and also our families, and to deliver compensation for what has been done. I possess self-confidence that the really good people at NASA will certainly carry out every thing essential to proceed our mission safely and also return our company properly at the correct time. As well as I overlook each of you quite. I can't be there with you in person, as well as we have a very long way to go to accomplish our objective, however be actually certain that my center is actually with you, as well as know you are in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last letter ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually an occupied week up listed here. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, our company are continuing our desired path along with organization as usual (as long as feasible). Tonight the latest addition to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be actually released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States time), it will certainly dock along with us, at a slot never used prior to on the nadir edge of the Solution Component. This new module is going to offer our team another place to dock a Progress or Soyuz and also are going to give a huge airlock with two able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our company are going to do a few of prior to our team return.The trouble prior to in dealing with today was insufficient headlines. The complication right now is actually way too much. It came simultaneously when e-mail was brought back, and there's insufficient opportunity to read all of it! Plus it's as well tough to cope with all of it at once. Yet I cherish obtaining it, and I truly value the excellent characters of help as well as relationship I am obtaining.We are prospering aboard, getting our job carried out, and also referring to things. Final evening our company had a long conversation over supper regarding the importance of these events, the achievable actions to observe, and also what should be performed. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every email he got from pals in Russia mentioned primarily to inform me how sorry they were that this taken place, extending their acknowledgements, and inquiring how I was carrying out. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually considerably too lengthy to pronounce effortlessly.) Incredibly type individuals.For the final pair of days, the Russian MCC has been good enough to transfer online broadcasts of radio updates regarding the occasion as well as affiliated accounts, to be sure I was effectively informed. Every expert who has actually come on free throw line to discuss an operation or even a concern has at some aspect extended hellos to me with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that due to the big day of recognition in the United States, throughout the day individuals had been actually carrying florals and edging all the walls of the United States consulate in Moscow, and also this night they were actually igniting candlesticks in the street outside the embassy. Just how the world has actually altered.Folks everywhere appear to acknowledge the senselessness and also terror in this assault. And also the incredible reduction. Moscow has taken care of these type of issues in the final few years with house and also train bombings, so they are actually as restless to get rid of this threat as we are. However the bottom line is that there are actually good individuals almost everywhere who would like to reside in peace. I read that a kid inquired, "United States is actually so really good to other countries, we consistently assist every person, exactly how can they despise us so much?".I really hope the example of teamwork as well as rely on that this space capsule and all the people in the course demonstrate daily are going to at some point influence the remainder of the world to function similarly. They must!Sadly, our experts won't be piloting over the United States while folks are actually lighting candle lights. Don't know if our company might find that anyway. Our team performed, nonetheless, view an incredibly uncommon and also lovely sight a couple of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. We were eclipsing it as well as it emerged regarding 3 mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sunlight struck our terminal, so it was still at night. It appeared like a sizable comet with a straight, broad tail silhouetted against the darker world beneath. Despite some negative illumination for some time as the sun reached our home window at a low viewpoint, I took care of some video of it as initially we passed the spacecraft, and afterwards watched it begin to mesmerize as it obtained height and also velocity. I recorded till principal engine cutoff and booster separation developed equally as our company came close to daybreak on the Himalayas. A remarkable attraction in a remarkable full week ...Life takes place, even in space. Our team are actually right here to stay ... Frank.