.Editor's Note: The adhering to is the text of a letter coming from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reflecting on the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not written significantly about specifics of this purpose during the course of the month I have actually been listed below, primarily for 2 main reasons: the initial being actually that there has been quite little bit of opportunity to accomplish that kind of composing, and furthermore, given that I am actually not sure exactly how pleasant I am discussing notions I provide friends and family along with the rest of the world.Properly, definitely the globe changed today. What I claim or carry out is really slight matched up to the significance of what took place to our country today when it was actually struck through ... through whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I guess. Hard to understand at whom to drive our anger as well as concern ...I had merely finished a number of duties this morning, the absolute most time-consuming being the physical exams of all team participants. In a private conversation following that, the air travel plastic surgeon told me they were actually possessing a quite poor time on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He illustrated the condition to me as ideal he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually flabbergasted, then alarmed. My 1st notion was actually that this wasn't an actual conversation, that I was still listening to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It simply didn't seem achievable on this scale in our nation. I couldn't even think of the particulars, even prior to the information of additional devastation began can be found in.Vladimir visited fairly rapidly, sensing that one thing incredibly serious was being actually talked about. I waved Michael into the element as well. They were actually likewise blown away and stunned. After our company signed off, I made an effort to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as best I could possibly the potential measurement of the show of terror in midtown New york and at the Pentagon. They plainly knew and were actually really thoughtful.I browsed the Globe Map on the computer to observe where over the world our team were actually as well as saw that we were happening southeast away from Canada and also would certainly be skipping New England in a few minutes. I zipped around the terminal till I discovered a window that would offer me a sight of NYC as well as nabbed the nearby video camera. It took place to be a video camera, and also I was looking southern coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have a weird bloom to it at the base of the pillar that was streaming south of the city. After reviewing some of the news articles our experts just got, I think our team were examining NY around the time of, or even not long after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. How terrible ...I swept the electronic camera the whole time the East Coast to the south to view if I can view some other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet nothing showed up.It was actually fairly tough to deal with work after that, though we possessed some to do, but on the upcoming orbit our team traversed the US additional south. All three people were actually functioning 1 or 2 video cameras to attempt to get sights of New york city or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, however no specific source can be viewed. Everything looked amazing from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can't imagine the terrible scenes on the ground.Aside from the mental effect of our nation being tackled and thousands of our residents and maybe some buddies being actually eliminated, the absolute most frustrating emotion being where I am actually is among seclusion.Following day ... I guess the tiredness and mental tension received the most effective of me. I could not remain awake and also remain to write. Today was still hard, but our experts began getting additional details, plus our team possessed the tribute of talking directly with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured our team that the ground crews would certainly continue to work and also guarantee our protection, as well as the secure procedure of the Place. Our team also talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the System are actually all entirely committed to proceeding risk-free functions and help. These were actually never inquiries for me. I recognize all these folks! The ground groups have actually been extremely supporting, very understanding of the influence of the information, as well as have actually attempted to become as valuable as possible. They have all been actually very professional and also centered though I can not envision the interruption of this sort of news coming in as well as the thought and feelings that federal government structures could be in jeopardy. They never ever bypassed a beat, even when relocating control centers. And also a group of elderly staffs and good friends provided our team a pretty extensive rundown about what was actually recognized as well as what was actually being actually performed in the government and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually incredibly helpful as well as type of them to accomplish in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has additionally been helpful and practical, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our own possessions were actually unusable, and also stating kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been actually terrific, also. They recognize it's been a hard day for me and also the folks on the ground, and also they've tried to be as even keeled as well as valuable as possible. Michael even repaired me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. As well as they offer me lots of room to presume when I needed it. They are actually very supportive and of course shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I understand plenty of folks in Washington, many people that travel to DC and also NYC, a lot of who are actually captains, that I experienced sure I would certainly acquire at least a few parts of trouble over the upcoming handful of times. I got the 1st one today when I knew that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that struck the Government was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I found Chic in the course of plebe summer months when our team were in the D&B all together, and our team had considerable amounts of training class all together. I can't envision what he needs to of experienced, and right now I listen to that he may have risen better than our company can also consider by possibly avoiding his plane from being actually the one to tackle the White House. What a horrendous loss, but I make certain Chic was combating bravely to the end. And also rips do not stream the very same precede ...It's complicated to illustrate how it experiences to be the only American completely off the earth at once including this. The emotion that I ought to be there with every one of you, dealing with this, aiding in some way, is frustrating. I know that our experts perform the limit (or even past) of a horrible switch in the past of the world. Many traits will certainly never ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the thousands as well as hundreds of people straight impacted by these horrible process of violence, but most likely for everybody. Our company will find our own selves experiencing in a different way about loads of points, including probably room expedition, regrettably.It is actually horrendous to see smoke cigarettes pouring coming from wounds in your personal nation coming from such an awesome perspective. The dichotomy of getting on a space probe devoted to enhancing everyday life on the earth and checking out life being actually ruined by such intentional, horrible actions is jolting to the psyche, despite who you are. As well as the knowledge that every little thing will certainly be various than when we launched due to the time we land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our management that our experts will definitely do everything feasible to far better safeguard her as well as our families, as well as to bring fair treatment for what has been done. I have self-confidence that the really good people at NASA are going to carry out whatever important to proceed our goal properly as well as return us carefully at the correct time. As well as I skip every one of you very much. I can't exist along with you face to face, and our company have a very long way to head to accomplish our goal, however be actually specific that my heart is actually along with you, as well as know you remain in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last letter ... Luckily, it is actually been a hectic full week up right here. As well as to show that, like our nation, we are continuing on our designated road with business customarily (as much as achievable). Tonight the most up to date add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will definitely be actually released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US opportunity), it will certainly dock with us, at a port certainly never used just before on the low point side of the Company Element. This brand new module is going to provide us one more spot to dock a Progress or Soyuz as well as are going to deliver a big airlock along with pair of useable hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our company will certainly perform a few of before our company get back.The trouble just before in handling recently was actually inadequate news. The trouble today is actually way too much. It came at one time when e-mail was actually brought back, and also there's inadequate time to read it all! Plus it's too challenging to take care of all of it at once. Yet I enjoy getting it, and also I truly enjoy the great characters of help and also companionship I am getting.Our company are prospering on board, acquiring our work performed, as well as referring to points. Last night we possessed a long discussion over dinner concerning the value of these events, the possible activities to comply with, as well as what need to be done. After dinner, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he obtained coming from friends in Russia pointed out exclusively to tell me how sorry they were that this taken place, expanding their acknowledgements, as well as inquiring exactly how I was actually doing. Vladimir showed me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and also the English terms are actually much too long to verbalize simply.) Very kind folks.For the last two times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to broadcast real-time broadcasts of radio updates regarding the activity as well as affiliated stories, to make sure I was actually well notified. Every professional who has actually started the line to explain a technique or even a complication contends some point expanded greetings to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that as a result of the big day of remembrance in the US, all day people had actually been actually bringing blooms and also lining all the wall surfaces of the United States consulate in Moscow, as well as this evening they were actually lighting candles in the street outside the consular office. How the planet has actually transformed.People just about everywhere seem to be to realize the senselessness and also horror in this particular strike. And also the tremendous loss. Moscow has actually handled these sort of complications in the final handful of years along with condo as well as metro battles, so they are as restless to do away with this risk as our company are. Yet the bottom series is that there are great folks almost everywhere who desire to stay in tranquility. I go through that a kid talked to, "The United States is actually so great to other countries, our company constantly help every person, how can they despise us a lot?".I wish the instance of cooperation and also depend on that this space probe plus all people in the plan display daily are going to sooner or later encourage the rest of the globe to operate the same way. They must!Unfortunately, we will not be flighting over the US while individuals are actually igniting candle lights. Don't understand if our company might see that in any case. Our team carried out, nevertheless, see an extremely unusual and also gorgeous view a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our team were actually overtaking it and it appeared about three minutes after its own launch from Baikonur as the sun hit our terminal, so it was still unaware. It looked like a large comet along with a right, broad rear silhouetted versus the darker planet under. Regardless of some poor lights for some time as the sun reached our home window at a low angle, I dealt with some video recording of it as first our company passed the spacecraft, and afterwards enjoyed it begin to mesmerize as it acquired height as well as rate. I recorded till principal engine cutoff and booster separation happened just like our experts moved toward daybreak on the Himalayas. An extraordinary sight in an unforgettable week ...Life happens, even precede. Our company are actually listed below to remain ... Frank.