.Publisher's Details: The complying with is the message of a letter from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), assessing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created very much about specifics of this particular purpose during the month I've been actually listed here, mostly for 2 causes: the first being actually that there has been extremely little time to perform that kind of creating, as well as second of all given that I am actually unsure exactly how relaxed I am discussing notions I show family and friends along with the rest of the world.Effectively, obviously the globe changed today. What I claim or carry out is actually extremely slight contrasted to the significance of what took place to our country today when it was actually struck by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I think. Challenging to know at whom to guide our temper and fear ...I had simply finished a lot of activities today, the absolute most time-consuming being actually the physical examinations of all staff members. In a private discussion complying with that, the trip doctor told me they were actually possessing a quite poor time on the ground. I had no tip ...He explained the situation to me as absolute best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually made speechless, after that terrified. My initial thought was actually that this wasn't an actual conversation, that I was actually still paying attention to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It only didn't seem achievable on this scale in our nation. I couldn't even envision the details, even before the headlines of further devastation began can be found in.Vladimir came by quite promptly, noticing that one thing incredibly significant was being actually gone over. I swayed Michael in to the element at the same time. They were also amazed and also stunned. After our experts signed off, I tried to reveal to Vladimir and Michael as finest I could the possible size of this particular act of fear in downtown Manhattan and also at the Government. They precisely knew and were really sympathetic.I browsed the World Chart on the personal computer to see where over the world our team were actually and also discovered that we were actually happening southeast away from Canada as well as would be actually passing over New England in a few moments. I zoomed around the station till I found a home window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City and took hold of the closest electronic camera. It occurred to be a camera, and also I was actually appearing southern from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have an odd blossom to it at the base of the column that was actually streaming south of the area. After reading among the news articles our team only got, I feel our experts were taking a look at NY around the amount of time of, or shortly after, the failure of the 2nd tower. How awful ...I panned the electronic camera during the East Coast to the south to observe if I could observe any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually quite difficult to think about work afterwards, though our experts possessed some to do, yet on the next orbit our experts traversed the United States further south. All three of us were functioning 1 or 2 video cameras to try to acquire perspectives of The big apple or Washington. There was fog over Washington, but no particular source might be observed. All of it appeared incredible from two to three hundred miles away. I can't envision the heartbreaking settings on the ground.Aside from the mental influence of our nation being actually dealt with and also countless our consumers and also possibly some good friends being actually killed, the absolute most difficult feeling being actually where I am actually is one of seclusion.Following time ... I reckon the tiredness and also mental tension received the greatest of me. I could not keep awake as well as continue to create. Today was still hard, however our team started getting additional information, plus our team possessed the tribute of chatting straight with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, who guaranteed us that the ground crews would certainly remain to operate and guarantee our security, along with the safe function of the Place. Our experts additionally talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that included that the partners in the Course are actually all entirely dedicated to continuing safe functions and help. These were actually never questions for me. I recognize all these people! The ground teams have been very helpful, quite understanding of the impact of the information, as well as have tried to be as valuable as achievable. They have actually all been actually really professional and also focused though I can not think of the disturbance of this type of information being available in as well as the thought and feelings that government buildings could be vulnerable. They never skipped a beat, also when moving nerve center. And a group of senior employees and also buddies offered our team a quite in depth briefing about what was recognized and what was being done in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually incredibly useful as well as kind of all of them to do in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has additionally been actually helpful and also beneficial, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our very own possessions were inoperable, and also stating kind words ...My crewmates have actually been actually wonderful, as well. They understand it's been actually a hard time for me and also the folks on the ground, and they have actually made an effort to become as even keeled as well as useful as possible. Michael even fixed me my favored Borscht soup for supper. And also they offer me loads of room to assume when I needed it. They are incredibly thoughtful and certainly outraged at whoever would perform this.I know many people in Washington, a lot of folks that travel to DC as well as NYC, so many that are actually captains, that I really felt certain I would certainly obtain at the very least a handful of parts of trouble over the following few times. I received the very first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that attacked the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic during plebe summertime when our company resided in the D&B together, and we had tons of courses all together. I can not picture what he has to of gone through, and right now I hear that he may have risen further than we can even think about by possibly avoiding his airplane from being the one to attack the White House. What a terrible reduction, however I make certain Chic was combating fearlessly to the end. And tears do not flow the exact same precede ...It is actually difficult to explain exactly how it really feels to become the only American fully off the planet each time such as this. The sensation that I must exist with all of you, dealing with this, assisting in some way, is frustrating. I know that our experts perform the limit (or even past) of a dreadful switch in the past history of the planet. Many factors will never coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Not just for the 1000s and lots of individuals straight impacted by these hideous process of violence, yet possibly for all of us. Our team will find ourselves really feeling differently regarding loads of factors, consisting of probably room exploration, regrettably.It is actually awful to view smoke putting coming from cuts in your very own country from such a wonderful point of view. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft devoted to strengthening everyday life on the planet as well as enjoying life being actually ruined by such intentional, horrible acts is jolting to the mind, regardless of who you are. As well as the expertise that every little thing will be various than when our company released due to the time our experts land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our country as well as in our management that our team will certainly carry out whatever achievable to far better safeguard her as well as our family members, as well as to deliver fair treatment wherefore has actually been carried out. I have self-confidence that the great people at NASA will perform every little thing needed to continue our goal carefully as well as return us carefully at the right time. And I miss out on every one of you significantly. I can not exist with you in person, as well as our company have a long way to head to accomplish our mission, however be particular that my soul is actually with you, as well as know you remain in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... The good news is, it is actually been an active week up right here. And also to prove that, like our country, we are actually advancing our planned road with service customarily (as long as feasible). Tonight the latest add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Area will certainly be introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States time), it will definitely dock with our company, at a port certainly never used prior to on the nadir side of the Company Element. This brand new component is going to give us an additional area to dock a Progression or even Soyuz and also will definitely offer a sizable airlock with two useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our experts will certainly perform a few of before our experts return.The concern prior to in dealing with this week was inadequate headlines. The complication now is actually too much. It arrived all at once when email was actually recovered, and there is actually not nearly enough time to review all of it! Plus it is actually as well difficult to handle all of it at the same time. Yet I cherish getting it, and I really cherish the excellent characters of assistance as well as relationship I am obtaining.Our company are actually prospering on board, getting our work done, as well as talking about traits. Last night our company had a lengthy dialogue over supper about the implication of these activities, the possible activities to observe, as well as what should be actually carried out. After dinner, Michael resolved telling me that every e-mail he obtained from friends in Russia pointed out exclusively to inform me how sorry they were actually that this happened, expanding their condolences, and talking to just how I was carrying out. Vladimir showed me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar City. (Both the Russian and also the English words are much very long to pronounce conveniently.) Extremely type folks.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to broadcast live shows of radio information regarding the celebration and linked stories, to ensure I was actually effectively updated. Every expert that has come on free throw line to review a procedure or an issue contends some factor extended hellos to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that because of the big day of remembrance in the United States, all day folks had actually been bringing blooms and also lining all the wall surfaces of the United States consular office in Moscow, and also this evening they were actually lighting candle lights in the street outside the consular office. Exactly how the globe has transformed.Folks all over seem to be to acknowledge the senselessness and terror in this attack. And also the enormous reduction. Moscow has actually dealt with these type of complications in the last couple of years with condo and also train battles, so they are actually as anxious to eliminate this risk as our company are. But all-time low product line is actually that there are actually great folks everywhere who intend to live in calmness. I go through that a child inquired, "America is actually so great to other nations, our experts consistently aid everybody, exactly how can they detest our team so much?".I really hope the instance of teamwork and also count on that this space probe plus all people in the plan illustrate daily will someday influence the remainder of the globe to operate similarly. They must!Regrettably, our team won't be flighting over the United States while people are actually lighting candle lights. Do not know if we might see that anyhow. Our team performed, nevertheless, observe an extremely unusual and beautiful attraction a handful of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our experts were actually surpassing it and it appeared about three moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight attacked our station, so it was still in the dark. It seemed like a huge comet with a right, vast rear silhouetted against the black planet under. Despite some negative lights for some time as the sunshine attacked our home window at a reduced position, I handled some video recording of it as to begin with our experts passed the rocket, and afterwards enjoyed it start to mesmerize as it got elevation and also rate. I filmed till principal motor cutoff and also enhancer separation developed equally we moved toward sunrise on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable view in an unforgettable full week ...Lifestyle takes place, also precede. We are actually listed here to keep ... Frank.