.Editor's Note: The following is the content of a letter from Trip Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reviewing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created significantly concerning specifics of this objective during the course of the month I've been listed below, generally for 2 causes: the initial being actually that there has actually been actually quite little bit of time to accomplish that kind of composing, as well as secondly since I am actually uncertain how relaxed I am sharing thoughts I show to family and friends with the rest of the planet.Well, obviously the world modified today. What I mention or even do is actually incredibly minor reviewed to the implication of what happened to our nation today when it was struck by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suspect. Hard to know at whom to route our anger and fear ...I had just finished a variety of tasks today, one of the most lengthy being the physical exams of all team members. In an exclusive conversation following that, the air travel cosmetic surgeon informed me they were having a really negative time on the ground. I had no tip ...He illustrated the situation to me as best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually amazed, then frightened. My 1st thought was actually that this had not been a real conversation, that I was still listening to among my Tom Clancy strips. It only failed to seem to be achievable on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't also envision the particulars, also before the updates of further damage began can be found in.Vladimir came by fairly rapidly, sensing that one thing incredibly major was actually being actually discussed. I swung Michael in to the module too. They were additionally amazed as well as stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to explain to Vladimir as well as Michael as finest I can the potential enormity of this particular act of terror in downtown Manhattan and also at the Government. They accurately knew and also were incredibly thoughtful.I browsed the Planet Chart on the personal computer to view where over the globe we were and noticed that our team were coming southeast away from Canada and also will be passing over New England in a few minutes. I whized around the terminal until I discovered a home window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City and nabbed the local video camera. It happened to become a video camera, and I was looking south coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to possess a strange flower to it at the bottom of the column that was streaming south of the urban area. After reviewing among the newspaper article we merely acquired, I believe we were examining NY around the time of, or even shortly after, the failure of the 2nd high rise. Just how horrible ...I swung the cam all along the East Shoreline to the south to see if I could see some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was actually rather difficult to think about job after that, though our team possessed some to carry out, yet on the next track our experts moved across the US additional southern. All three people were functioning a couple of video cameras to make an effort to obtain viewpoints of New York or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no certain resource may be seen. It all appeared incredible from two to three hundred miles away. I can't think of the awful settings on the ground.Apart from the emotional impact of our nation being attacked and countless our residents and maybe some close friends being actually eliminated, the absolute most difficult sensation being where I am actually is one of isolation.Following time ... I presume the exhaustion as well as emotional stress got the most ideal of me. I could not keep awake as well as remain to write. Today was actually still hard, yet our company started receiving additional information, plus our team possessed the tribute of chatting directly along with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our company that the ground groups would continue to function as well as ensure our safety and security, along with the secure procedure of the Station. We also talked to our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, that included that the partners in the Plan are all totally committed to carrying on secure procedures and also assistance. These were actually never ever concerns for me. I recognize all these folks! The ground teams have been surprisingly supporting, incredibly understanding of the influence of the information, as well as have actually made an effort to become as helpful as feasible. They have all been actually very specialist as well as centered though I can not visualize the diversion of the type of news can be found in as well as the thought and feelings that federal government buildings might be in danger. They certainly never missed a beat, even when moving control centers. As well as a team of senior workers and close friends gave us a rather detailed briefing on what was understood as well as what was actually being actually done in the federal government and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was quite handy and sort of all of them to do in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been encouraging as well as handy, trying to uplink news articles when our own possessions were actually unusable, and pointing out kind phrases ...My crewmates have been actually fantastic, as well. They know it is actually been a hard day for me as well as the individuals on the ground, and also they've made an effort to be as also keeled as well as beneficial as feasible. Michael also fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. As well as they offer me lots of space to believe when I required it. They are actually extremely compassionate as well as of course shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I understand many folks in Washington, so many folks that take a trip to DC as well as New York City, many who are actually flies, that I experienced certain I would certainly acquire at the very least a handful of pieces of bad news over the following couple of times. I acquired the initial one today when I knew that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that hit the Government was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of plebe summer when our experts were in the D&B together, as well as our company possessed tons of classes with each other. I can't envision what he needs to of gone through, as well as right now I listen to that he may possess climbed better than our company can also think about by potentially avoiding his plane from being actually the one to deal with the White Property. What an awful reduction, yet I make certain Chic was fighting bravely to the end. As well as splits do not flow the very same in space ...It's challenging to illustrate exactly how it experiences to be the only United States completely off the planet at a time such as this. The feeling that I should be there along with every one of you, taking care of this, helping in some way, is overwhelming. I recognize that we are on the threshold (or even beyond) of a terrible switch in the background of the world. Lots of points are going to never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the manies thousand and lots of folks directly impacted through these ghastly actions of terrorism, but possibly for everyone. Our team will locate ourselves experiencing in a different way concerning loads of traits, including probably area expedition, sadly.It is actually unpleasant to view smoke cigarettes putting from wounds in your own country coming from such an excellent perspective. The dichotomy of being on a space probe committed to boosting everyday life on the earth as well as seeing lifestyle being actually destroyed through such conscious, dreadful actions is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of that you are. As well as the know-how that every little thing will definitely be various than when we released due to the opportunity our company land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our nation and also in our management that our team will certainly carry out everything feasible to far better defend her and our families, as well as to deliver fair treatment for what has been carried out. I possess peace of mind that the really good folks at NASA are going to do whatever necessary to continue our goal carefully as well as return our company safely at the right time. And also I skip every one of you very much. I can not exist along with you in person, and also we have a very long way to go to complete our mission, however be actually specific that my heart is with you, as well as understand you reside in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... The good news is, it's been actually an active full week up below. As well as to verify that, like our nation, our company are actually advancing our intended pathway with company customarily (as high as feasible). Tonight the most up to date add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will definitely be released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States opportunity), it is going to dock with us, at a slot certainly never made use of just before on the nadir side of the Service Component. This brand-new module will provide our team one more spot to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and also are going to offer a big airlock along with two useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our team will definitely carry out a few of prior to our company get back.The problem just before in managing today was inadequate information. The concern right now is a lot of. It arrived all at once when e-mail was recovered, as well as there is actually not nearly enough opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's also difficult to take care of all of it simultaneously. But I enjoy obtaining it, as well as I actually enjoy the fantastic letters of assistance and friendship I am actually obtaining.We are actually flourishing on board, acquiring our work carried out, and also discussing factors. Final evening our experts possessed a long discussion over dinner concerning the value of these occasions, the possible activities to adhere to, as well as what ought to be actually performed. After supper, Michael made a point of telling me that every e-mail he received coming from close friends in Russia stated primarily to inform me how sorry they were actually that this occurred, prolonging their acknowledgements, and inquiring exactly how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir showed me the Russian term for "condolences" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Urban area. (Both the Russian and the English terms are actually a lot too long to articulate effortlessly.) Extremely type individuals.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has been good enough to broadcast real-time programs of broadcast information regarding the event as well as affiliated accounts, to be sure I was properly informed. Every specialist who has actually come on the line to discuss an operation or even a trouble has at some aspect expanded hellos to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that because of the big day of recognition in the United States, all day individuals had been actually delivering florals and edging all the walls of the US embassy in Moscow, as well as this night they were igniting candles in the street outside the consulate. Just how the globe has actually modified.Individuals anywhere appear to acknowledge the senselessness and terror within this attack. As well as the incredible reduction. Moscow has coped with these type of troubles in the last couple of years with house and metro battles, so they are actually as troubled to do away with this threat as our team are actually. Yet the bottom product line is that there are actually really good folks anywhere that want to live in peace. I go through that a little one inquired, "The United States is therefore good to other countries, our experts always help every person, exactly how can they detest our team a lot?".I really hope the instance of teamwork and depend on that this space probe plus all individuals in the program show daily are going to one day encourage the rest of the world to function similarly. They must!However, our experts won't be actually flighting over the United States while folks are lighting candlesticks. Don't know if our company could possibly see that anyhow. Our experts did, nevertheless, find a very unique as well as lovely attraction a handful of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. We were actually overtaking it and also it came into view regarding three mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our terminal, so it was actually still unaware. It appeared like a sizable comet with a directly, vast rear silhouetted against the darker earth underneath. Regardless of some poor illumination for a while as the sunshine attacked our window at a low viewpoint, I took care of some online video of it as initially our team passed the rocket, and afterwards saw it start to catch up as it acquired height and also velocity. I filmed up until principal motor cutoff and booster separation happened equally we moved toward dawn on the Mountain ranges. A memorable sight in a memorable full week ...Lifestyle goes on, also precede. Our experts're right here to remain ... Frank.