.Editor's Keep in mind: The observing is the message of a letter coming from Trip Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), assessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written quite regarding specifics of this particular mission during the month I have actually been here, primarily for two causes: the initial being actually that there has actually been actually extremely little bit of time to perform that kind of composing, as well as second of all due to the fact that I'm not sure just how relaxed I am actually sharing thoughts I share with friends and family with the rest of the world.Properly, clearly the planet changed today. What I claim or perform is very slight matched up to the implication of what happened to our country today when it was struck by ... through whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I suppose. Challenging to recognize at whom to point our rage and fear ...I had actually simply ended up an amount of duties this morning, one of the most taxing being the physical examinations of all team participants. In an exclusive talk following that, the flight surgeon informed me they were having a really bad time on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He defined the situation to me as absolute best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually astonished, at that point terrified. My 1st thought was that this had not been an actual conversation, that I was actually still paying attention to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It just failed to seem possible on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even picture the particulars, also prior to the information of additional devastation started can be found in.Vladimir dropped in quite quickly, sensing that something really severe was actually being actually gone over. I waved Michael into the component as well. They were also astounded and stunned. After our team authorized off, I tried to describe to Vladimir and Michael as absolute best I could the possible measurement of this act of fear in midtown New york as well as at the Government. They precisely knew and also were actually quite understanding.I glanced at the World Chart on the pc to see where over the world our experts were actually and also saw that our team were coming southeast away from Canada as well as will be actually skipping New England in a handful of mins. I whized around the station until I located a window that would give me a sight of New York City and got the local camera. It happened to be a camera, as well as I was appearing southern coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke seemed to be to have an odd bloom to it at the base of the pillar that was streaming south of the area. After reading through some of the news articles our experts only got, I feel our experts were examining NY around the moment of, or soon after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. Exactly how dreadful ...I panned the camera during the East Shore to the south to see if I could find some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing at all showed up.It was actually fairly challenging to deal with job afterwards, though our team had some to carry out, but on the following orbit our experts went across the US additional south. All 3 of us were actually functioning one or two cams to attempt to acquire perspectives of The big apple or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, however no certain source may be viewed. It all appeared incredible coming from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can not imagine the awful scenes on the ground.Other than the emotional effect of our country being attacked and also hundreds of our citizens and perhaps some close friends being gotten rid of, the most frustrating sensation being where I am is among solitude.Following time ... I suspect the exhaustion and mental tension acquired the very best of me. I couldn't keep awake and also continue to write. Today was actually still challenging, yet our experts began getting additional information, plus we possessed the tribute of talking straight with the Center Director, Roy Estess, who guaranteed our company that the ground crews would certainly continue to function and also guarantee our safety, and also the risk-free procedure of the Place. We additionally talked to our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the partners in the Course are all entirely dedicated to continuing safe procedures and also assistance. These were actually never questions for me. I recognize all these folks! The ground teams have actually been actually unbelievably supportive, really understanding of the influence of the updates, and have tried to be as useful as possible. They have actually all been very professional and concentrated though I can not imagine the diversion of this type of news being available in and also the thought and feelings that government structures might be in danger. They certainly never bypassed a beat, also when transferring nerve center. As well as a group of senior workers as well as pals gave our team a rather thorough instruction on what was understood as well as what was being actually performed in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually quite practical and also sort of them to carry out in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually supportive as well as beneficial, trying to uplink news articles when our own resources were actually inoperable, and saying kind terms ...My crewmates have been actually excellent, too. They recognize it is actually been actually a tough time for me as well as the people on the ground, and also they've tried to become as even keeled and useful as possible. Michael also corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. And also they provide me loads of space to think when I needed it. They are actually really understanding and obviously outraged at whoever will do this.I know numerous people in Washington, plenty of people that take a trip to DC and also New York City, a lot of that are flies, that I really felt certain I will get at the very least a handful of items of problem over the following handful of times. I acquired the very first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I came across Chic in the course of plebe summer season when our team were in the D&B together, and our company had great deals of lessons with each other. I can not visualize what he should of gone through, and also now I hear that he may have risen additionally than our company can also think about through probably stopping his plane coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Home. What an awful reduction, however I make sure Chic was fighting bravely throughout. And tears do not stream the very same in space ...It's challenging to define how it experiences to become the only American totally off the world at a time such as this. The sensation that I ought to exist with each of you, managing this, assisting somehow, is mind-boggling. I know that our company get on the limit (or past) of a terrible switch in the past history of the world. Many things will never be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the 1000s and hundreds of people directly had an effect on through these hideous actions of terrorism, but probably for we all. We will certainly find our own selves feeling in different ways about lots of traits, featuring probably area expedition, however.It is actually horrendous to see smoke cigarettes pouring from injuries in your own nation coming from such an amazing viewpoint. The dichotomy of getting on a spacecraft committed to enhancing live on the earth and seeing life being actually damaged through such witting, horrendous acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are. And also the expertise that whatever will be actually different than when our experts launched due to the time our company land is a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and also in our management that we will certainly carry out whatever achievable to better guard her and also our households, and to bring justice of what has been actually carried out. I possess confidence that the excellent individuals at NASA will definitely perform every thing needed to proceed our objective properly and also return our team safely at the right time. And I overlook every one of you significantly. I can't be there along with you personally, and our team possess a long way to head to complete our goal, but be actually particular that my soul is with you, as well as recognize you reside in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last letter ... Fortunately, it is actually been an occupied full week up listed here. And also to verify that, like our country, we are actually continuing our intended path along with service as usual (as high as possible). Tonight the most up to date add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Area will certainly be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (US time), it will definitely dock with us, at a slot never ever utilized just before on the low point side of the Solution Module. This new component will provide our team another spot to dock an Improvement or Soyuz and also are going to offer a sizable airlock along with pair of useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which we are going to do a few of before our experts get back.The issue just before in coping with this week was actually inadequate headlines. The complication now is way too much. It arrived all at once when e-mail was restored, and also there's not nearly enough opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's also tough to manage all of it at the same time. But I enjoy obtaining it, and I definitely cherish the fantastic characters of assistance and also relationship I am actually acquiring.Our company are actually prospering on board, getting our job done, as well as talking about factors. Final evening our company possessed a lengthy discussion over dinner concerning the implication of these activities, the possible actions to adhere to, as well as what should be done. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every e-mail he acquired coming from good friends in Russia claimed exclusively to inform me exactly how regretful they were actually that this occurred, expanding their acknowledgements, and also asking how I was actually performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually much too long to articulate quickly.) Quite types individuals.For the final 2 days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transfer real-time shows of radio news about the activity as well as associated tales, to see to it I was properly educated. Every professional that has actually begun the line to discuss a method or a problem contends some aspect expanded hellos to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that because of the wedding of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day individuals had been actually delivering blossoms and edging all the walls of the US consulate in Moscow, and this night they were actually igniting candle lights in the road outside the consular office. Exactly how the world has actually altered.Folks everywhere seem to recognize the senselessness and also horror within this attack. And the remarkable reduction. Moscow has actually managed these sort of issues in the final few years with condo and train bombings, so they are actually as nervous to remove this risk as we are. However the bottom series is actually that there are actually great individuals just about everywhere who wish to live in calmness. I go through that a little one talked to, "The United States is therefore really good to various other countries, our experts constantly aid every person, exactly how can they despise us so much?".I really hope the example of collaboration and also leave that this spacecraft plus all the people in the course illustrate daily are going to sooner or later inspire the rest of the globe to work similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our team won't be actually flighting over the United States during the time individuals are actually igniting candlesticks. Do not understand if our company can see that anyhow. Our experts carried out, nonetheless, find a quite uncommon and beautiful view a couple of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. We were surpassing it and also it emerged concerning 3 moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight hit our terminal, so it was still at night. It seemed like a huge comet along with a straight, broad tail silhouetted against the darker planet under. Despite some negative lighting fixtures for some time as the sunshine struck our home window at a reduced perspective, I handled some video of it as first our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that watched it begin to mesmerize as it obtained elevation as well as velocity. I recorded until main motor cutoff and booster separation happened just like our company moved toward daybreak on the Mountain ranges. An extraordinary sight in an unforgettable week ...Lifestyle goes on, even precede. Our team're listed below to keep ... Frank.