.Editor's Details: The adhering to is the text message of a character coming from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reassessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written quite about specifics of the purpose during the month I've been actually here, mostly for 2 factors: the initial being actually that there has been actually extremely little opportunity to do that type of composing, as well as secondly due to the fact that I'm not exactly sure exactly how pleasant I am actually discussing notions I provide family and friends with the rest of the globe.Effectively, obviously the globe modified today. What I claim or do is very slight compared to the importance of what happened to our nation today when it was actually struck through ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we understand, I guess. Hard to recognize at whom to point our temper and anxiety ...I had only finished a variety of duties this morning, the absolute most taxing being actually the physical exams of all staff members. In a private discussion observing that, the trip doctor informed me they were possessing a really poor time on the ground. I had no concept ...He described the circumstance to me as best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was shocked, after that terrified. My 1st notion was actually that this wasn't a genuine chat, that I was actually still listening closely to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It simply failed to seem feasible on this scale in our nation. I could not also visualize the particulars, also before the information of more devastation started being available in.Vladimir came by pretty quickly, sensing that something incredibly significant was actually being covered. I swayed Michael into the component also. They were actually likewise astonished as well as stunned. After our team signed off, I tried to explain to Vladimir and Michael as ideal I could the possible magnitude of the act of terror in midtown Manhattan as well as at the Government. They clearly comprehended as well as were very considerate.I browsed the Globe Map on the personal computer to observe where over the globe our company were as well as discovered that our team were coming southeast out of Canada and also will be actually passing over New England in a handful of minutes. I zoomed around the terminal until I found a home window that will provide me a perspective of New York City as well as nabbed the closest camera. It occurred to become a camera, as well as I was actually appearing south from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess an odd blossom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After going through some of the newspaper article our company only received, I believe our team were actually taking a look at NY around the time of, or even soon after, the crash of the 2nd tower. How horrible ...I panned the cam the whole time the East Coastline to the south to view if I can observe any other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was actually pretty hard to think about job after that, though our company had some to do, however on the upcoming orbit our company crossed the United States further south. All three of us were functioning a couple of cameras to try to obtain sights of New York or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, but no certain source might be seen. Everything appeared astonishing coming from two to three hundred miles away. I can't envision the heartbreaking scenes on the ground.Apart from the mental effect of our country being actually tackled and also thousands of our people and also maybe some pals being eliminated, one of the most mind-boggling sensation being actually where I am actually is one of isolation.Following day ... I suspect the exhaustion and emotional pressure received the best of me. I could not remain awake and remain to write. Today was actually still tough, however our experts started receiving more info, plus our team possessed the tribute of talking straight along with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that ensured us that the ground crews would continue to function and ensure our security, as well as the secure operation of the Place. Our experts also heard from our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the System are all totally dedicated to proceeding risk-free functions and also help. These were never ever inquiries for me. I understand all these folks! The ground groups have actually been actually unbelievably supportive, quite understanding of the influence of the updates, as well as have actually tried to be as useful as achievable. They have all been actually really expert and also focused though I can not picture the diversion of the kind of headlines coming in and also the thought that government buildings could be in danger. They never ever skipped a beat, even when relocating control centers. And also a group of elderly workers as well as buddies provided our team a pretty in depth briefing about what was recognized and also what was actually being performed in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was extremely handy as well as kind of them to carry out in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has additionally been supporting as well as valuable, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own assets were unusable, and saying kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been great, also. They know it's been a tough time for me and the folks on the ground, as well as they've attempted to be as even keeled and handy as possible. Michael even fixed me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. And they give me plenty of room to presume when I needed it. They are actually incredibly thoughtful and also of course outraged at whoever would certainly perform this.I understand plenty of people in Washington, so many individuals who take a trip to DC and New York City, plenty of that are actually aviators, that I experienced certain I will acquire at the very least a few pieces of trouble over the following handful of times. I got the very first one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I met Chic throughout cadet summer months when our company were in the D&B together, and our experts had lots of training class with each other. I can't visualize what he must of looked at, and also right now I listen to that he may possess climbed better than our company may also think of by probably stopping his airplane coming from being the one to deal with the White House. What a dreadful reduction, however I make sure Chic was actually combating fearlessly to the end. As well as splits don't move the exact same precede ...It is actually tough to illustrate how it feels to be the only American entirely off the earth at once such as this. The sensation that I must be there with all of you, dealing with this, helping somehow, is overwhelming. I recognize that our company are on the limit (or past) of a horrible switch in the past of the world. Many factors will certainly certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the thousands as well as 1000s of individuals straight affected by these horrible process of violence, yet probably for everybody. Our experts are going to find our own selves really feeling differently about lots of traits, featuring most likely area exploration, regrettably.It is actually unpleasant to view smoke cigarettes putting coming from wounds in your very own nation from such a great vantage point. The duality of being on a space capsule devoted to enhancing live on the earth as well as watching life being actually damaged by such unforced, horrendous process is actually jolting to the mind, despite that you are actually. And the understanding that whatever will be actually different than when our team launched due to the opportunity our company land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and also in our leadership that our company will definitely carry out every little thing possible to far better guard her and our families, as well as to deliver justice for what has actually been actually performed. I possess self-confidence that the great folks at NASA will perform everything important to proceed our purpose securely as well as return our team safely at the right time. And also I skip each one of you very much. I can't exist with you personally, and our team possess a long way to visit finish our goal, however be actually particular that my center is along with you, and recognize you remain in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last letter ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually an occupied full week up below. And to show that, like our country, our team are actually advancing our desired path with company as usual (as long as possible). Tonight the most up to date addition to the station, the Russian Docking Area will definitely be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US opportunity), it will definitely dock with us, at a port never ever made use of before on the nadir edge of the Service Element. This brand new module will definitely give our company an additional location to dock a Progress or Soyuz and will offer a huge airlock along with two able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our company will certainly do a few of before we get back.The concern before in handling today was inadequate updates. The issue right now is too much. It arrived simultaneously when email was recovered, and also there's insufficient time to read all of it! Plus it's as well challenging to cope with all of it immediately. Yet I cherish acquiring it, and I actually enjoy the excellent characters of assistance and friendly relationship I am actually getting.We are actually succeeding on board, obtaining our work performed, and discussing things. Last evening our experts possessed a long dialogue over dinner concerning the significance of these events, the achievable activities to comply with, as well as what must be performed. After supper, Michael made a point of informing me that every email he acquired coming from good friends in Russia pointed out particularly to tell me just how regretful they were actually that this happened, prolonging their condolences, and asking exactly how I was actually doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually a lot too lengthy to pronounce quickly.) Incredibly type folks.For the final pair of times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to send live shows of radio headlines about the event and affiliated accounts, to make sure I was effectively informed. Every professional that has come on the line to discuss a procedure or a trouble contends some point expanded greetings to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that as a result of the big day of remembrance in the United States, all day people had actually been bringing flowers and also lining all the wall structures of the US consular office in Moscow, as well as this night they were igniting candle lights in the street outside the embassy. How the globe has altered.Folks almost everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness and scary within this assault. And also the significant loss. Moscow has actually taken care of these type of problems in the final handful of years along with apartment as well as subway battles, so they are as anxious to get rid of this threat as we are. However the bottom series is that there are actually great folks just about everywhere who wish to stay in calmness. I review that a kid asked, "The United States is actually therefore excellent to other countries, our experts constantly help everyone, how can they loathe our company so much?".I really hope the example of participation as well as leave that this space capsule and all individuals in the system demonstrate daily are going to one day inspire the remainder of the world to operate the same way. They must!However, our experts won't be actually flighting over the US during the time individuals are igniting candlesticks. Do not know if we could observe that anyhow. Our experts carried out, nonetheless, see an extremely uncommon and also attractive sight a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were actually overtaking it and also it came into view about three minutes after its launch from Baikonur as the sun struck our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It resembled a large comet along with a straight, broad tail silhouetted versus the black earth underneath. In spite of some negative illumination for some time as the sunlight hit our home window at a reduced angle, I managed some video recording of it as first we passed the spacecraft, and afterwards watched it begin to catch up as it acquired altitude as well as rate. I recorded until principal motor cutoff and also enhancer separation happened equally we moved toward daybreak on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable sight in a memorable week ...Life goes on, even in space. Our team're listed below to keep ... Frank.