.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is the text message of a character from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), assessing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed very much concerning specifics of the purpose during the month I have actually been right here, primarily for pair of reasons: the first being actually that there has actually been actually extremely little opportunity to perform that sort of writing, as well as secondly due to the fact that I am actually unsure just how relaxed I am discussing thoughts I show family and friends with the rest of the world.Effectively, obviously the globe transformed today. What I say or perform is actually extremely small compared to the importance of what occurred to our country today when it was actually assaulted by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I reckon. Tough to understand at whom to guide our anger and worry ...I had merely ended up an amount of jobs this morning, the absolute most taxing being the physical exams of all team participants. In a personal conversation observing that, the tour surgeon told me they were possessing a quite poor time on the ground. I had no idea ...He explained the circumstance to me as finest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually flabbergasted, after that terrified. My 1st thought was that this had not been a real talk, that I was actually still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It simply didn't seem to be achievable on this scale in our nation. I couldn't even imagine the particulars, even prior to the headlines of additional damage started can be found in.Vladimir visited fairly swiftly, picking up that one thing quite significant was being actually talked about. I waved Michael in to the element as well. They were actually additionally amazed and stunned. After our experts authorized off, I attempted to reveal to Vladimir and Michael as ideal I might the possible size of this act of terror in midtown New york and at the Government. They accurately understood and also were actually extremely understanding.I browsed the World Map on the computer to see where over the world our company were actually and noticed that our team were happening southeast out of Canada and will be skipping New England in a few moments. I zipped around the station till I found a window that would give me a scenery of NYC as well as grabbed the local cam. It happened to become a video camera, and I was actually looking south coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have an odd flower to it at the foundation of the pillar that was streaming south of the area. After checking out one of the newspaper article we just acquired, I think our company were examining NY around the time of, or not long after, the collapse of the second tower. How horrendous ...I panned the camera the whole time the East Shoreline to the south to find if I can see every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing showed up.It was rather difficult to consider work after that, though our team possessed some to do, but on the next orbit our experts moved across the US more south. All 3 people were functioning one or two electronic cameras to make an effort to get viewpoints of The big apple or even Washington. There was haze over Washington, but no details resource may be observed. Everything looked extraordinary coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not envision the heartbreaking scenes on the ground.Other than the emotional influence of our nation being dealt with and 1000s of our citizens and possibly some pals being gotten rid of, the most mind-boggling feeling being where I am is just one of solitude.Following day ... I suspect the tiredness as well as psychological stress acquired the very best of me. I couldn't stay awake and also continue to create. Today was still complicated, yet our experts began acquiring additional info, plus our team possessed the respect of chatting directly with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground crews would certainly continue to operate and guarantee our safety and security, in addition to the secure procedure of the Place. Our team also spoke with our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the partners in the Program are all totally devoted to carrying on secure functions as well as support. These were certainly never inquiries for me. I know all these individuals! The ground crews have been incredibly supporting, incredibly understanding of the effect of the headlines, and also have actually made an effort to be as valuable as achievable. They have actually all been extremely qualified as well as concentrated though I can't picture the distraction of the kind of news being available in and the idea that government structures could be in danger. They certainly never skipped a beat, also when transferring control centers. And a team of elderly personnel as well as close friends offered us a pretty complete rundown on what was actually recognized and what was being actually done in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was very beneficial and kind of them to accomplish in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been encouraging and handy, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our personal resources were unusable, as well as claiming kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been fantastic, as well. They understand it is actually been actually a challenging day for me as well as the people on the ground, and they've made an effort to become as even keeled and also beneficial as achievable. Michael also fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. And they offer me a lot of area to think when I required it. They are really supportive and of course outraged at whoever will perform this.I know plenty of people in Washington, numerous folks who journey to DC as well as NYC, numerous that are actually pilots, that I felt certain I would certainly get at least a few items of trouble over the next handful of days. I got the 1st one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I came across Chic in the course of cadet summertime when our company were in the D&B together, as well as our experts had tons of training class together. I can't visualize what he needs to of experienced, as well as right now I listen to that he might possess increased further than our team can also think about through possibly avoiding his airplane from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a horrible loss, but I make certain Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. And also tears do not flow the exact same precede ...It's hard to illustrate how it really feels to become the only United States totally off the world each time such as this. The sensation that I ought to be there with each of you, handling this, assisting somehow, is difficult. I know that we perform the limit (or beyond) of a dreadful shift in the past of the world. Numerous traits will definitely certainly never coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the thousands and lots of people straight affected through these ghastly actions of violence, however possibly for we all. We will definitely locate our own selves really feeling in different ways about dozens of things, featuring probably area expedition, regrettably.It's awful to see smoke cigarettes pouring from injuries in your very own country coming from such an awesome viewpoint. The dichotomy of getting on a space probe devoted to enhancing life on the planet and watching lifestyle being actually destroyed through such intentional, awful acts is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of that you are. As well as the understanding that everything will be various than when we introduced by the time our company land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and in our leadership that we will definitely do every little thing possible to far better guard her and also our households, and also to take compensation for what has actually been carried out. I possess assurance that the really good individuals at NASA will do everything needed to continue our objective securely and return us carefully at the correct time. As well as I overlook every one of you quite. I can't exist along with you face to face, and our team have a long way to visit complete our objective, yet be specific that my heart is along with you, as well as understand you reside in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final character ... Thankfully, it's been a hectic full week up listed below. As well as to confirm that, like our country, our team are actually continuing our planned course along with organization as usual (as long as possible). Tonight the most up to date enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Area will definitely be released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (US opportunity), it will dock with our company, at a slot certainly never utilized just before on the low point edge of the Solution Element. This brand new element will certainly give our company yet another place to dock a Progression or Soyuz as well as will give a sizable airlock with 2 useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our company will perform a few of prior to our team come home.The problem prior to in taking care of recently was insufficient headlines. The problem now is excessive. It came all at once when email was actually rejuvenated, and also there's inadequate opportunity to review everything! Plus it is actually also hard to cope with all of it simultaneously. However I cherish getting it, and I really value the excellent characters of support and relationship I am obtaining.Our company are actually succeeding on board, acquiring our job done, as well as referring to traits. Last evening our experts had a long discussion over dinner regarding the significance of these celebrations, the feasible activities to follow, and also what should be performed. After dinner, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he received from close friends in Russia pointed out specifically to inform me how regretful they were actually that this occurred, stretching their condolences, as well as talking to just how I was doing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian word for "condolences" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English terms are much very long to pronounce effortlessly.) Very kind people.For the final two days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit real-time broadcasts of broadcast news regarding the event as well as affiliated accounts, to see to it I was well educated. Every expert that has started free throw line to cover an operation or an issue has at some factor expanded introductions to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our team that due to the wedding day of remembrance in the United States, all day folks had been taking florals as well as lining all the wall surfaces of the US consular office in Moscow, and this evening they were lighting candles in the street outside the embassy. Just how the planet has altered.Individuals everywhere seem to identify the senselessness and also terror within this attack. And also the remarkable reduction. Moscow has actually dealt with these type of troubles in the final couple of years along with condo and also subway battles, so they are actually as nervous to get rid of this threat as our experts are actually. But the bottom product line is that there are actually excellent people everywhere that want to reside in peace. I check out that a child asked, "America is so good to various other countries, we constantly assist everybody, how can they detest our team so much?".I really hope the example of collaboration and leave that this space probe plus all the people in the program display daily will sooner or later inspire the remainder of the globe to work the same way. They must!Sadly, our company won't be flighting over the United States while individuals are actually igniting candle lights. Do not understand if our team might view that in any case. Our experts performed, nonetheless, find a very unusual and lovely attraction a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. We were actually overtaking it and also it appeared regarding 3 mins after its own launch from Baikonur as the sun hit our terminal, so it was actually still unaware. It appeared like a big comet along with a directly, broad tail silhouetted versus the black world below. Despite some poor lighting fixtures for some time as the sunlight struck our window at a reduced viewpoint, I handled some video recording of it as initially we passed the spacecraft, and after that viewed it begin to mesmerize as it got altitude as well as speed. I filmed until principal engine deadline as well as enhancer splitting up occurred equally our team came close to sunrise on the Mountain ranges. An extraordinary view in an extraordinary full week ...Lifestyle happens, also in space. We are actually listed below to stay ... Frank.