.Editor's Details: The following is the message of a letter from Trip Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed significantly regarding specifics of this goal throughout the month I've been actually below, primarily for 2 factors: the first being actually that there has been actually really little time to carry out that sort of composing, and also the second thing is since I am actually unsure how relaxed I am discussing thought and feelings I show to family and friends with the rest of the globe.Properly, certainly the world transformed today. What I claim or perform is actually quite small reviewed to the importance of what happened to our country today when it was actually attacked through ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we know, I suppose. Tough to understand at whom to drive our temper and also concern ...I had actually simply completed a lot of duties this morning, one of the most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all crew members. In a private talk following that, the tour plastic surgeon told me they were possessing a really bad time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He described the scenario to me as best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was stunned, then horrified. My initial thought and feelings was that this had not been an actual chat, that I was actually still paying attention to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It simply didn't seem feasible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even think of the particulars, also just before the news of additional devastation began being available in.Vladimir came by fairly promptly, picking up that something really severe was being actually explained. I swayed Michael in to the module too. They were actually likewise blown away and stunned. After we authorized off, I tried to explain to Vladimir and also Michael as absolute best I could possibly the prospective enormity of the show of terror in downtown New york as well as at the Government. They precisely comprehended and also were actually quite understanding.I glanced at the World Chart on the personal computer to view where over the world we were and also noticed that our company were coming southeast away from Canada and also will be actually overlooking New England in a handful of mins. I zoomed around the station until I discovered a window that would certainly give me a viewpoint of NYC and got the nearby camera. It occurred to be a camera, and also I was actually looking south from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to possess an odd bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the city. After reading through some of the newspaper article our experts merely got, I think our experts were actually looking at NY around the amount of time of, or even quickly after, the crash of the 2nd tower. How dreadful ...I swung the electronic camera all along the East Coastline to the south to see if I could possibly view every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing at all showed up.It was quite complicated to think of job afterwards, though our team possessed some to perform, but on the following orbit our experts crossed the United States additional southern. All 3 people were actually operating 1 or 2 cameras to make an effort to get perspectives of New York or even Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no particular resource could be seen. All of it looked fabulous coming from two to three hundred miles away. I can't imagine the awful scenes on the ground.Apart from the emotional effect of our country being actually attacked and also lots of our consumers as well as maybe some close friends being actually killed, the most frustrating feeling being actually where I am is just one of solitude.Next day ... I reckon the exhaustion and also psychological strain got the greatest of me. I couldn't remain awake as well as continue to create. Today was still tough, however our company started getting more details, plus our team possessed the respect of speaking directly with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our team that the ground teams would certainly continue to work and also guarantee our security, in addition to the risk-free procedure of the Place. Our experts also spoke with our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, that included that the partners in the Course are all completely dedicated to continuing secure operations and also support. These were actually never ever questions for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground staffs have actually been actually exceptionally helpful, incredibly understanding of the effect of the updates, and also have tried to become as helpful as achievable. They have all been actually very expert and also focused though I can not visualize the disturbance of this form of headlines can be found in and also the idea that government properties could be in jeopardy. They never missed a beat, even when relocating control centers. And also a group of elderly personnel as well as close friends gave us a quite thorough rundown on what was understood and what was being performed in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually quite valuable as well as kind of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been helpful and helpful, trying to uplink news articles when our own properties were actually unusable, and also claiming kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually wonderful, as well. They know it is actually been a difficult day for me and the folks on the ground, as well as they've attempted to become as also keeled and also beneficial as feasible. Michael even corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. And they offer me loads of space to presume when I required it. They are actually extremely supportive and also of course outraged at whoever would certainly perform this.I know numerous individuals in Washington, a lot of folks that journey to DC and also NYC, numerous that are captains, that I really felt sure I would receive at the very least a few items of problem over the next handful of times. I received the very first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that hit the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic throughout cadet summer season when our team remained in the D&B together, as well as our company had considerable amounts of lessons with each other. I can not visualize what he needs to of looked at, as well as now I listen to that he might have climbed additionally than our team can even think of by potentially stopping his airplane from being actually the one to attack the White Property. What an awful loss, however I'm sure Chic was actually battling bravely throughout. And also rips do not stream the same precede ...It's tough to explain how it feels to become the only American completely off the earth at once including this. The emotion that I should be there with all of you, coping with this, aiding in some way, is actually overwhelming. I know that our experts perform the limit (or even beyond) of a horrendous change in the background of the world. Several factors will certainly certainly never be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Not just for the thousands and 1000s of people directly had an effect on through these horrendous process of terrorism, however perhaps for we all. Our company will certainly find our own selves really feeling in a different way about loads of things, including most likely space expedition, unfortunately.It is actually awful to find smoke cigarettes putting from wounds in your personal country from such a superb vantage point. The duality of performing a space capsule dedicated to enhancing daily life on the earth and also enjoying life being actually damaged by such conscious, dreadful process is actually jolting to the subconscious, despite that you are actually. As well as the understanding that whatever will definitely be different than when we introduced due to the opportunity our company land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our management that our experts will certainly carry out whatever feasible to much better defend her and also our families, and to deliver justice wherefore has actually been actually performed. I have assurance that the really good folks at NASA will perform everything important to continue our objective properly and also return our company properly at the right time. And I miss out on each of you very much. I can't exist along with you face to face, as well as we possess a long way to head to complete our mission, yet be actually specific that my soul is actually along with you, and also know you are in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final character ... Thankfully, it's been an occupied week up listed below. And to show that, like our nation, our team are actually continuing on our desired path with business as usual (as high as feasible). Tonight the current addition to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US time), it will definitely dock along with our company, at a slot certainly never made use of just before on the nadir edge of the Solution Module. This brand new module is going to give our team an additional area to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also will deliver a huge airlock with pair of useable hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our experts will perform a few of before our company get back.The issue prior to in coping with today was actually too little information. The problem today is a lot of. It arrived simultaneously when e-mail was actually brought back, and there is actually inadequate opportunity to read everything! Plus it is actually as well tough to handle all of it at once. However I appreciate getting it, as well as I actually enjoy the wonderful letters of help and friendly relationship I am acquiring.We are actually prospering aboard, getting our job done, as well as discussing things. Final night we possessed a long conversation over dinner about the implication of these occasions, the achievable activities to observe, as well as what need to be actually performed. After supper, Michael made a point of informing me that every e-mail he acquired from good friends in Russia claimed especially to tell me just how sorry they were actually that this taken place, prolonging their acknowledgements, and also asking just how I was carrying out. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and also the English words are actually much very lengthy to verbalize conveniently.) Very kind people.For the final two days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to broadcast live shows of radio news about the activity and also associated accounts, to make certain I was actually properly notified. Every expert that has come on free throw line to talk about an operation or even a concern contends some factor extended hellos to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that as a result of the wedding of recognition in the US, all the time individuals had been bringing flowers as well as edging all the wall structures of the US embassy in Moscow, and this night they were actually lighting candles in the road outside the embassy. Exactly how the globe has actually changed.Folks just about everywhere seem to be to realize the senselessness and horror in this particular attack. As well as the significant reduction. Moscow has actually taken care of these sort of troubles in the last few years along with apartment and also metro bombings, so they are actually as distressed to get rid of this risk as our company are actually. But the bottom series is that there are great individuals all over who desire to stay in calmness. I read through that a child inquired, "America is therefore really good to various other countries, we regularly assist everyone, exactly how can they detest us a lot?".I wish the instance of collaboration and leave that this space capsule and all individuals in the program illustrate daily are going to someday encourage the remainder of the planet to function similarly. They must!However, our team will not be flighting over the US during the time folks are actually igniting candles. Do not recognize if our experts might find that anyhow. We did, however, observe a really unusual and gorgeous attraction a couple of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. We were actually eclipsing it and also it came into view about three moments after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our terminal, so it was actually still at night. It appeared like a sizable comet along with a directly, wide tail silhouetted against the darker planet beneath. Despite some negative illumination for some time as the sunshine struck our window at a low angle, I took care of some video clip of it as to begin with our experts passed the rocket, and afterwards viewed it begin to catch up as it obtained height and rate. I shot until major motor cutoff and also booster separation happened just like our team came close to sunrise on the Mountain ranges. An extraordinary view in an extraordinary week ...Life happens, even precede. We're listed below to remain ... Frank.