.Publisher's Keep in mind: The following is actually the message of a letter coming from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed very much about specifics of this mission during the course of the month I've been here, primarily for two causes: the very first being actually that there has been quite little opportunity to carry out that type of composing, and also furthermore, because I am actually uncertain just how pleasant I am discussing notions I share with family and friends with the remainder of the globe.Well, certainly the globe changed today. What I state or even carry out is actually incredibly minor matched up to the value of what occurred to our country today when it was struck through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I suspect. Hard to know at whom to direct our anger and worry ...I had actually simply ended up a number of jobs today, the most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all workers participants. In an exclusive talk observing that, the flight surgeon informed me they were possessing an extremely negative day on the ground. I possessed no suggestion ...He defined the circumstance to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was overwhelmed, at that point horrified. My very first thought and feelings was that this wasn't a genuine conversation, that I was still listening closely to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It only didn't seem to be achievable on this incrustation in our nation. I could not also visualize the details, even just before the updates of more destruction began being available in.Vladimir came over rather rapidly, noticing that something incredibly serious was being actually talked about. I swayed Michael right into the component too. They were actually additionally blown away and stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as absolute best I could the prospective immensity of the act of fear in downtown New york and also at the Pentagon. They precisely knew as well as were extremely compassionate.I eyed the Globe Chart on the computer to observe where over the planet our team were actually and also observed that our experts were actually happening southeast away from Canada and also will be actually overlooking New England in a few mins. I whized around the terminal until I located a home window that would provide me a viewpoint of NYC and also grabbed the nearby cam. It took place to become a camera, and I was actually appearing southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have a strange blossom to it at the base of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reading through among the newspaper article we only obtained, I feel our team were taking a look at NY around the time of, or even soon after, the crash of the 2nd tower. Exactly how unpleasant ...I panned the cam all along the East Coast to the south to see if I could find every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, but absolutely nothing was visible.It was fairly complicated to think of job afterwards, though our team had some to perform, yet on the following orbit our experts crossed the United States further southern. All three people were actually working a couple of cams to attempt to obtain sights of New york city or Washington. There was haze over Washington, but no details source can be observed. Everything looked fabulous coming from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can't think of the awful scenes on the ground.Besides the emotional effect of our nation being attacked and lots of our citizens and perhaps some friends being gotten rid of, the most overwhelming emotion being actually where I am actually is among isolation.Following time ... I think the fatigue and also psychological strain obtained the greatest of me. I could not remain awake and also remain to create. Today was actually still tough, but our experts started acquiring additional relevant information, plus we possessed the honor of speaking straight with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our company that the ground teams would certainly continue to work and ensure our security, along with the safe operation of the Station. Our experts also spoke with our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Plan are all absolutely committed to proceeding safe operations and also support. These were never ever concerns for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground crews have actually been very helpful, extremely understanding of the influence of the information, as well as have actually tried to become as handy as achievable. They have actually all been actually quite professional and centered though I can not envision the disturbance of this particular form of updates being available in and also the notion that authorities properties may be vulnerable. They never ever missed a beat, even when transferring nerve center. As well as a team of senior workers and also pals provided our team a pretty comprehensive briefing on what was known and also what was actually being carried out in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was extremely valuable and kind of all of them to accomplish in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually also been actually supporting and helpful, trying to uplink news articles when our personal resources were actually inoperable, and pointing out kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been terrific, too. They recognize it is actually been actually a difficult day for me as well as the individuals on the ground, and they have actually tried to be as also keeled and also handy as possible. Michael even repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. As well as they offer me lots of room to presume when I needed it. They are actually extremely considerate and naturally outraged at whoever would certainly perform this.I know a lot of individuals in Washington, plenty of individuals who travel to DC and New York City, so many that are pilots, that I really felt sure I will get at the very least a handful of pieces of problem over the next few times. I acquired the initial one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that reached the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I came across Chic throughout plebe summertime when we resided in the D&B all together, as well as our team possessed lots of classes together. I can't envision what he has to of undergone, as well as currently I hear that he may have increased even further than our experts can also think about by perhaps avoiding his aircraft coming from being actually the one to attack the White Property. What a dreadful loss, but I ensure Chic was actually battling bravely to the end. And also tears don't stream the same precede ...It's difficult to describe how it experiences to be the only United States completely off the world at once including this. The emotion that I need to be there with each of you, dealing with this, helping in some way, is actually mind-boggling. I recognize that we are on the limit (or past) of a terrible change in the history of the planet. A lot of things will certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the manies thousand and also hundreds of folks straight had an effect on through these hideous actions of violence, yet perhaps for everybody. Our experts will certainly discover ourselves experiencing in a different way about dozens of things, including probably room expedition, regrettably.It is actually terrible to find smoke cigarettes pouring from wounds in your very own country from such a superb angle. The dichotomy of being on a space probe dedicated to improving live on the earth and also checking out lifestyle being actually ruined by such premeditated, terrible acts is actually jolting to the psyche, no matter that you are actually. And also the expertise that every thing will be actually various than when we launched by the opportunity our company land is a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and in our management that we will certainly perform every little thing feasible to far better defend her and our households, and to bring compensation of what has actually been actually carried out. I possess confidence that the good individuals at NASA will definitely carry out every little thing essential to proceed our goal carefully as well as return our company securely at the right time. And I overlook each one of you significantly. I can not exist along with you in person, and also our experts possess a long way to go to accomplish our mission, but be particular that my heart is actually along with you, as well as understand you reside in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final character ... The good news is, it's been an active full week up listed below. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, our company are actually continuing our desired path along with service as usual (as long as feasible). Tonight the latest addition to the station, the Russian Docking Area will be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States time), it is going to dock along with us, at a slot never used prior to on the nadir edge of the Service Module. This new element will certainly provide our company another location to dock a Progression or Soyuz as well as are going to supply a large airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which we will carry out a few of just before our experts get back.The concern before in dealing with today was insufficient news. The complication today is actually excessive. It came at one time when e-mail was actually restored, as well as there is actually not nearly enough time to review all of it! Plus it is actually also hard to handle all of it at once. But I value receiving it, and also I truly enjoy the terrific letters of assistance as well as friendly relationship I am obtaining.We are actually succeeding on board, acquiring our job carried out, and also discussing factors. Last night our experts had a lengthy dialogue over dinner about the value of these activities, the possible activities to follow, as well as what must be actually performed. After supper, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he got from friends in Russia mentioned especially to tell me exactly how regretful they were that this happened, stretching their condolences, as well as asking exactly how I was performing. Vladimir showed me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually a lot too long to pronounce conveniently.) Quite kind people.For the final pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transfer online shows of radio news concerning the celebration as well as associated accounts, to make sure I was actually well notified. Every professional that has actually begun free throw line to talk about an operation or a concern has at some aspect prolonged hellos to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that because of the big day of remembrance in the United States, all day people had actually been actually bringing flowers and also lining all the wall structures of the US consular office in Moscow, and this night they were actually lighting candle lights in the road outside the embassy. Exactly how the planet has actually altered.Individuals anywhere appear to identify the senselessness and also horror within this attack. And also the enormous loss. Moscow has actually taken care of these kind of troubles in the final few years along with home and also metro battles, so they are as anxious to remove this danger as our company are. But the bottom product line is that there are great individuals everywhere that want to live in tranquility. I review that a kid talked to, "America is so good to other nations, our company regularly help every person, just how can they dislike us so much?".I hope the instance of teamwork and rely on that this space capsule and all the people in the plan illustrate daily are going to at some point influence the rest of the planet to operate similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our company will not be actually taking flight over the US during the time people are lighting candle lights. Don't know if our team can find that in any case. Our team did, however, see an extremely uncommon as well as attractive sight a handful of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. We were actually overtaking it and also it appeared about three minutes after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sun attacked our station, so it was still at night. It seemed like a big comet with a right, broad tail silhouetted versus the darker world underneath. In spite of some bad lighting fixtures for some time as the sunshine hit our window at a low perspective, I took care of some video recording of it as initially our team passed the rocket, and then viewed it begin to mesmerize as it gained elevation and velocity. I filmed till major motor cutoff and also enhancer splitting up occurred just like our experts moved toward sunup on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable attraction in an unforgettable week ...Lifestyle goes on, also in space. Our experts are actually listed here to remain ... Frank.