.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is the message of a letter coming from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), assessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed very much regarding specifics of this particular goal throughout the month I have actually been actually below, primarily for two explanations: the initial being that there has actually been extremely little opportunity to accomplish that type of writing, and furthermore, given that I'm not sure exactly how pleasant I am discussing notions I show to family and friends with the remainder of the planet.Well, undoubtedly the world transformed today. What I point out or even do is actually really slight contrasted to the importance of what happened to our nation today when it was attacked by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I presume. Challenging to recognize at whom to direct our rage and concern ...I had merely finished a lot of activities this morning, the best time-consuming being the physical examinations of all crew members. In an exclusive talk following that, the flight specialist informed me they were having an incredibly bad time on the ground. I had no tip ...He illustrated the circumstance to me as ideal he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was thrown for a loop, then frightened. My very first idea was actually that this wasn't a genuine chat, that I was actually still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It merely didn't appear feasible on this scale in our nation. I could not also imagine the details, also prior to the headlines of additional damage started being available in.Vladimir came pretty swiftly, picking up that one thing incredibly major was being talked about. I swung Michael in to the element too. They were actually additionally surprised and stunned. After we signed off, I tried to detail to Vladimir and Michael as ideal I could possibly the potential enormity of this particular show of fear in midtown Manhattan as well as at the Pentagon. They precisely knew and also were really compassionate.I browsed the World Chart on the computer system to find where over the planet we were actually and also discovered that our company were coming southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be actually skipping New England in a couple of mins. I zoomed around the terminal until I discovered a window that will give me a sight of NYC and snatched the nearby video camera. It took place to be a camera, and also I was actually appearing southern coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to have a weird blossom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reviewing some of the news articles our company merely acquired, I believe our company were checking out NY around the time of, or quickly after, the collapse of the second tower. How horrendous ...I swung the electronic camera all along the East Coastline to the south to view if I can observe some other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing at all was visible.It was fairly tough to deal with work afterwards, though our company possessed some to perform, but on the following orbit we crossed the US further southern. All 3 of us were actually operating one or two electronic cameras to attempt to receive views of New York or even Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no details source could be found. It all appeared incredible coming from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can not visualize the terrible scenes on the ground.Other than the mental impact of our country being actually attacked as well as lots of our citizens and also possibly some good friends being actually eliminated, the most overwhelming sensation being where I am actually is just one of isolation.Following time ... I guess the exhaustion and psychological tension received the very best of me. I could not stay awake and remain to compose. Today was still hard, however our experts started obtaining additional details, plus our company possessed the honor of chatting directly with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who ensured our team that the ground crews would remain to operate as well as ensure our safety, in addition to the secure procedure of the Place. Our team also learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that added that the companions in the Program are all entirely committed to carrying on secure operations and support. These were never concerns for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground crews have actually been actually incredibly supportive, really understanding of the influence of the information, and also have actually made an effort to become as beneficial as achievable. They have actually all been actually incredibly expert as well as centered though I can not envision the distraction of this type of headlines being available in and also the notion that authorities properties could be in jeopardy. They certainly never avoided a beat, even when moving nerve center. And a group of elderly employees and also close friends gave our team a rather in depth briefing about what was understood and also what was actually being carried out in the government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was incredibly practical and sort of all of them to perform in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has likewise been supportive and also practical, making an effort to uplink news articles when our very own assets were actually inoperable, and also stating kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been great, also. They understand it's been a hard time for me and also the individuals on the ground, as well as they've tried to become as also keeled as well as valuable as achievable. Michael even repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. And they give me a lot of area to believe when I required it. They are very understanding and certainly outraged at whoever would do this.I understand so many folks in Washington, so many individuals who travel to DC and also New York City, a lot of that are captains, that I felt certain I will acquire at the very least a few items of problem over the following handful of days. I acquired the very first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that reached the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic during the course of plebe summer season when our company remained in the D&B together, as well as we possessed lots of lessons with each other. I can not visualize what he must of undergone, and right now I listen to that he might have climbed even further than we can also think of by potentially stopping his plane coming from being actually the one to attack the White Property. What an awful reduction, however I ensure Chic was actually dealing with bravely to the end. As well as splits do not flow the same precede ...It is actually tough to define just how it really feels to become the only United States fully off the planet each time like this. The sensation that I must exist along with each one of you, managing this, assisting somehow, is actually difficult. I know that we perform the limit (or even beyond) of an awful shift in the record of the world. Lots of traits will never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the manies thousand and thousands of individuals straight affected by these ghastly acts of terrorism, however most likely for everybody. Our team will certainly locate ourselves feeling in a different way concerning loads of factors, including most likely space expedition, regrettably.It's horrible to find smoke cigarettes pouring coming from injuries in your very own country from such a wonderful vantage point. The duality of being on a space capsule devoted to strengthening everyday life on the planet as well as checking out life being actually damaged through such planned, dreadful acts is jolting to the mind, regardless of that you are actually. And the understanding that whatever are going to be different than when our experts launched due to the opportunity our team land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our management that our company will definitely do everything feasible to better shield her and also our loved ones, as well as to deliver justice wherefore has been actually done. I possess confidence that the excellent folks at NASA will certainly carry out every thing important to continue our purpose safely and return our company carefully at the correct time. And I skip all of you quite. I can't exist with you in person, and we possess a very long way to visit accomplish our goal, however be specific that my heart is actually with you, as well as recognize you are in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final letter ... Luckily, it's been actually an occupied full week up here. And to verify that, like our nation, our company are continuing on our desired path with company as usual (as high as achievable). Tonight the latest addition to the place, the Russian Docking Area will be actually launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (US time), it will certainly dock with our company, at a port never ever utilized just before on the low point side of the Solution Component. This new module will definitely give us yet another location to dock a Development or Soyuz as well as will definitely supply a sizable airlock along with 2 useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which we will certainly perform a few of before we get back.The concern just before in managing today was actually insufficient updates. The problem right now is excessive. It arrived all at once when email was recovered, and also there's not nearly enough opportunity to read it all! Plus it is actually too tough to cope with all of it simultaneously. But I appreciate acquiring it, and also I actually enjoy the excellent characters of assistance and also companionship I am getting.Our experts are prospering on board, receiving our work carried out, and speaking about points. Last evening our company had a lengthy discussion over supper about the implication of these activities, the feasible actions to observe, as well as what should be carried out. After dinner, Michael made a point of informing me that every email he acquired from friends in Russia pointed out primarily to tell me how sorry they were that this taken place, extending their condolences, as well as asking just how I was doing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are much very long to pronounce quickly.) Quite type folks.For the last two times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to broadcast online shows of radio headlines about the activity and associated stories, to see to it I was effectively notified. Every specialist that has actually begun the line to review an operation or even an issue contends some factor extended greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that due to the wedding day of remembrance in the US, throughout the day people had actually been actually bringing flowers as well as edging all the walls of the US consulate in Moscow, as well as this night they were igniting candle lights in the street outside the embassy. Exactly how the planet has actually modified.Folks all over seem to identify the senselessness and also scary in this assault. And also the tremendous reduction. Moscow has actually handled these type of concerns in the last couple of years with condo as well as metro bombings, so they are actually as distressed to get rid of this threat as our experts are actually. However the bottom line is that there are excellent people just about everywhere who wish to live in tranquility. I check out that a kid asked, "The United States is thus excellent to various other countries, our company constantly aid every person, how can they loathe our team a lot?".I hope the example of collaboration and also count on that this space probe and all individuals in the course show daily will sooner or later motivate the remainder of the world to operate the same way. They must!Unfortunately, we won't be actually flying over the United States during the time individuals are lighting candle lights. Don't know if our company might see that anyway. Our company carried out, nevertheless, observe a quite unusual and also stunning view a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our company were actually eclipsing it as well as it emerged regarding 3 mins after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our terminal, so it was still at night. It appeared like a sizable comet with a right, broad tail silhouetted versus the dark planet beneath. Despite some poor illumination for a while as the sunlight attacked our window at a low position, I handled some video clip of it as first our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that watched it begin to mesmerize as it acquired elevation and velocity. I recorded till principal engine deadline and also enhancer splitting up occurred equally we moved toward dawn on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable attraction in a memorable week ...Life takes place, even precede. Our company're listed below to stay ... Frank.