.Editor's Keep in mind: The following is actually the text message of a character coming from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), assessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created quite regarding specifics of this particular mission during the month I have actually been here, generally for 2 main reasons: the first being that there has actually been actually very little opportunity to do that type of writing, and furthermore, since I am actually not sure just how relaxed I am actually discussing thoughts I provide family and friends along with the rest of the planet.Effectively, clearly the planet changed today. What I state or even carry out is incredibly minor reviewed to the implication of what happened to our country today when it was attacked through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I suspect. Hard to recognize at whom to point our anger and also worry ...I had actually merely ended up a number of activities this morning, the most time-consuming being actually the physical examinations of all workers members. In an exclusive discussion following that, the flight surgeon told me they were having an extremely negative time on the ground. I had no tip ...He defined the circumstance to me as greatest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually amazed, at that point frightened. My very first notion was that this wasn't a genuine discussion, that I was still listening closely to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It only really did not appear possible on this incrustation in our country. I could not also think of the details, even just before the news of more destruction started can be found in.Vladimir visited quite rapidly, noticing that something incredibly serious was being reviewed. I swayed Michael right into the module also. They were also amazed and stunned. After our experts signed off, I tried to describe to Vladimir and also Michael as ideal I could possibly the prospective enormity of the act of horror in downtown New york and at the Pentagon. They plainly comprehended and were actually really understanding.I browsed the Globe Map on the pc to observe where over the planet our company were and also observed that our experts were coming southeast out of Canada and would be overlooking New England in a couple of mins. I whized around the station till I found a window that would certainly offer me a perspective of New York City as well as ordered the closest cam. It happened to be a video camera, and I was appearing southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to be to possess an odd flower to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the urban area. After going through among the news articles our team simply obtained, I believe our experts were actually looking at NY around the amount of time of, or not long after, the collapse of the second high rise. Just how horrendous ...I scanned the electronic camera the whole time the East Shore to the south to find if I could possibly view every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing was visible.It was actually quite complicated to think about job after that, though our team possessed some to do, yet on the upcoming track we went across the US further south. All three of us were working 1 or 2 electronic cameras to attempt to receive sights of New York or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, however no particular source might be found. Everything appeared astonishing from two to three hundred miles away. I can not picture the heartbreaking scenes on the ground.Aside from the mental impact of our nation being actually dealt with and also 1000s of our residents and also perhaps some buddies being gotten rid of, the most overwhelming feeling being where I am actually is one of isolation.Upcoming day ... I guess the tiredness and psychological pressure acquired the most ideal of me. I could not stay awake and also remain to write. Today was still hard, yet our experts started obtaining even more details, plus we had the tribute of speaking straight with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who assured our team that the ground teams would certainly continue to operate and ensure our protection, and also the secure procedure of the Place. We also heard from our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who added that the partners in the Course are all completely dedicated to carrying on secure functions and assistance. These were actually never concerns for me. I understand all these individuals! The ground staffs have been exceptionally supportive, really understanding of the effect of the updates, and also have tried to become as helpful as feasible. They have actually all been quite expert as well as concentrated though I can't visualize the disturbance of this type of news can be found in as well as the thought and feelings that government structures might be in jeopardy. They never avoided a beat, also when relocating nerve center. And a group of senior workers and also good friends offered our company a quite in depth rundown on what was actually understood and also what was actually being actually performed in the government and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually really practical and also type of all of them to do in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has additionally been actually helpful and beneficial, trying to uplink newspaper article when our very own resources were inoperable, as well as claiming kind words ...My crewmates have been terrific, also. They recognize it's been a tough day for me and also the folks on the ground, as well as they've tried to be as also keeled as well as useful as feasible. Michael also repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. And they offer me lots of space to assume when I required it. They are actually extremely compassionate and also obviously shocked at whoever would perform this.I recognize so many folks in Washington, a lot of people who travel to DC and also NYC, a lot of who are captains, that I felt certain I would certainly acquire a minimum of a couple of pieces of bad news over the upcoming few times. I acquired the 1st one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I came across Chic throughout cadet summertime when our company resided in the D&B all together, as well as we had tons of lessons together. I can not imagine what he should of looked at, and also currently I listen to that he might possess climbed better than we can easily even consider through perhaps avoiding his plane from being the one to attack the White Home. What a horrible loss, however I make sure Chic was combating fearlessly to the end. And splits don't circulate the very same precede ...It is actually challenging to describe just how it experiences to become the only American fully off the earth at a time like this. The emotion that I ought to be there along with all of you, taking care of this, aiding somehow, is difficult. I understand that our company are on the threshold (or beyond) of an awful shift in the background of the world. A lot of factors are going to never ever coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the manies thousand and also hundreds of folks directly influenced through these horrible acts of terrorism, yet perhaps for all of us. We are going to discover our own selves feeling in different ways about dozens of things, featuring probably space expedition, unfortunately.It is actually horrible to view smoke pouring from wounds in your own nation coming from such an amazing perspective. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft committed to boosting everyday life on the earth and also seeing lifestyle being ruined by such unforced, awful process is actually jolting to the mind, despite who you are. And the know-how that everything will definitely be actually different than when we introduced by the time our team land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and also in our management that our company will definitely carry out every thing possible to better shield her as well as our family members, and also to take justice of what has actually been actually carried out. I have assurance that the good folks at NASA will perform every little thing essential to proceed our purpose safely as well as return our team carefully at the right time. And I skip each one of you very much. I can not be there with you personally, as well as we possess a very long way to go to accomplish our mission, yet be specific that my soul is with you, and recognize you remain in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final letter ... The good news is, it's been actually an occupied full week up right here. As well as to verify that, like our country, our experts are actually continuing our planned road with business customarily (as much as feasible). Tonight the current add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will certainly be introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States opportunity), it will dock with us, at a port never ever utilized prior to on the nadir side of the Solution Element. This brand new component is going to give us one more place to dock a Progress or Soyuz and are going to deliver a sizable airlock with two useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our team will certainly perform a few of just before our team come home.The trouble prior to in dealing with today was insufficient headlines. The concern today is actually excessive. It arrived all at once when e-mail was repaired, as well as there's insufficient time to review all of it! Plus it's also hard to deal with all of it at once. However I cherish receiving it, and I definitely enjoy the fantastic letters of support and relationship I am actually getting.We are actually prospering aboard, acquiring our job carried out, and also talking about things. Final evening we possessed a long conversation over dinner concerning the significance of these celebrations, the possible actions to follow, and also what should be carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every e-mail he acquired coming from close friends in Russia pointed out primarily to inform me how sorry they were actually that this taken place, stretching their acknowledgements, and talking to exactly how I was carrying out. Vladimir taught me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English terms are considerably extremely long to verbalize simply.) Extremely kind individuals.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transfer real-time programs of broadcast headlines about the celebration as well as linked tales, to ensure I was actually well educated. Every expert who has actually started free throw line to cover a treatment or even an issue contends some aspect expanded introductions to me with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that because of the special day of recognition in the United States, throughout the day individuals had actually been actually carrying florals as well as edging all the wall surfaces of the US consulate in Moscow, as well as this evening they were actually igniting candle lights in the road outside the consulate. Exactly how the globe has changed.Individuals just about everywhere seem to be to acknowledge the senselessness and terror in this attack. And also the remarkable loss. Moscow has handled these type of troubles in the final few years along with home and also train battles, so they are actually as anxious to remove this risk as our team are. But all-time low collection is that there are actually great individuals almost everywhere that would like to live in peace. I review that a child asked, "The United States is actually therefore good to other nations, our experts consistently assist everybody, how can they dislike us so much?".I hope the example of teamwork as well as depend on that this space probe plus all people in the plan display daily are going to at some point motivate the rest of the planet to function similarly. They must!Unfortunately, we won't be actually flying over the US during the time folks are lighting candlesticks. Do not know if we could possibly see that anyhow. We did, nevertheless, observe a quite unusual and stunning attraction a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. We were eclipsing it as well as it emerged concerning 3 moments after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sun hit our terminal, so it was still at night. It seemed like a big comet with a directly, broad rear silhouetted versus the darker earth beneath. Despite some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sunshine hit our home window at a low position, I took care of some video clip of it as initially our experts passed the rocket, and after that viewed it begin to mesmerize as it gained height and velocity. I recorded up until main engine cutoff as well as enhancer separation occurred equally our experts approached dawn on the Himalayas. A memorable view in an extraordinary week ...Life takes place, also in space. Our company're below to keep ... Frank.