.Publisher's Note: The adhering to is actually the message of a letter from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written very much concerning specifics of the objective during the course of the month I've been listed below, generally for two main reasons: the 1st being that there has been very little time to accomplish that type of writing, and also the second thing is considering that I'm not sure just how comfy I am discussing ideas I share with family and friends with the remainder of the world.Properly, undoubtedly the planet changed today. What I claim or carry out is incredibly slight matched up to the importance of what happened to our nation today when it was attacked by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I suppose. Tough to understand at whom to drive our temper as well as anxiety ...I had actually simply ended up a lot of jobs today, the best time-consuming being the physical exams of all staff members. In a personal discussion complying with that, the trip plastic surgeon informed me they were actually having an extremely bad time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He described the situation to me as best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was amazed, after that alarmed. My 1st thought was that this had not been a real conversation, that I was still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy strips. It only didn't seem feasible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't even envision the details, even before the information of additional devastation began can be found in.Vladimir came by quite rapidly, noticing that one thing incredibly major was being actually explained. I waved Michael right into the component also. They were likewise amazed as well as stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to detail to Vladimir and also Michael as finest I can the potential immensity of this act of horror in midtown New york as well as at the Government. They accurately knew and also were actually incredibly compassionate.I eyed the Planet Chart on the pc to observe where over the globe our company were as well as discovered that our company were actually coming southeast out of Canada and would be skipping New England in a handful of minutes. I whized around the terminal till I located a window that would offer me a sight of NYC as well as got hold of the nearest video camera. It took place to become a video camera, as well as I was actually appearing southern from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess an odd bloom to it at the foundation of the column that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reviewing among the newspaper article our team merely obtained, I think we were looking at NY around the moment of, or even not long after, the failure of the 2nd tower. Just how awful ...I swung the camera during the East Shoreline to the south to observe if I might find some other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing showed up.It was fairly challenging to consider job afterwards, though we had some to perform, but on the next orbit our experts moved across the United States additional southern. All 3 people were operating one or two cams to attempt to acquire perspectives of New York or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, yet no specific resource might be seen. Everything looked fabulous coming from two to three hundred miles away. I can not visualize the heartbreaking settings on the ground.Besides the mental effect of our country being actually attacked and lots of our consumers as well as perhaps some close friends being eliminated, the most difficult sensation being actually where I am actually is one of solitude.Upcoming day ... I think the exhaustion and psychological stress obtained the very best of me. I could not stay awake and also remain to create. Today was still challenging, but our experts began acquiring additional relevant information, plus our experts had the honor of speaking directly along with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured us that the ground staffs would certainly continue to operate and also ensure our security, in addition to the safe procedure of the Place. Our team additionally spoke with our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who added that the partners in the System are actually all totally dedicated to carrying on safe functions and assistance. These were certainly never inquiries for me. I know all these individuals! The ground crews have been actually incredibly supporting, very understanding of the influence of the updates, as well as have actually attempted to be as handy as feasible. They have all been actually really qualified and also focused though I can not visualize the disturbance of the kind of updates can be found in as well as the thought and feelings that authorities structures could be vulnerable. They certainly never skipped a beat, even when relocating control centers. And a team of senior employees and friends provided our team a quite in depth instruction on what was understood and also what was actually being carried out in the government and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually incredibly helpful and also kind of them to perform in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has likewise been supportive as well as handy, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own possessions were actually unusable, and mentioning kind words ...My crewmates have been excellent, also. They understand it's been actually a challenging day for me as well as the people on the ground, as well as they have actually attempted to become as also keeled and useful as possible. Michael even fixed me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. And also they offer me plenty of room to think when I required it. They are actually really sympathetic and also obviously outraged at whoever will do this.I know so many individuals in Washington, so many people who take a trip to DC and also New York City, a lot of who are actually pilots, that I really felt sure I will receive at the very least a few parts of problem over the following few times. I acquired the first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that struck the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of cadet summer season when our company remained in the D&B with each other, as well as our company possessed bunches of training class all together. I can't visualize what he must of gone through, as well as now I hear that he might have increased additionally than our experts can also consider by potentially preventing his aircraft coming from being the one to deal with the White Residence. What a horrendous reduction, yet I'm sure Chic was dealing with bravely to the end. As well as splits don't move the very same in space ...It is actually tough to illustrate exactly how it really feels to become the only United States completely off the earth each time such as this. The sensation that I must be there with every one of you, coping with this, assisting in some way, is actually mind-boggling. I recognize that our team perform the threshold (or past) of a terrible switch in the past of the globe. Many factors are going to never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the thousands and also 1000s of folks straight influenced through these ghastly process of violence, yet most likely for everybody. We will definitely find ourselves experiencing in different ways concerning loads of things, consisting of perhaps area expedition, however.It is actually awful to view smoke cigarettes pouring coming from wounds in your personal nation coming from such a superb viewpoint. The duality of getting on a spacecraft devoted to improving daily life on the earth as well as seeing lifestyle being actually damaged by such purposeful, dreadful actions is actually jolting to the psyche, regardless of who you are actually. As well as the know-how that whatever will be actually different than when our team launched due to the opportunity our company land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our leadership that we are going to do everything achievable to much better safeguard her as well as our loved ones, as well as to deliver fair treatment wherefore has been done. I have assurance that the good folks at NASA will carry out whatever needed to continue our goal carefully as well as return our company properly at the correct time. And I overlook every one of you significantly. I can't exist with you in person, and also our team possess a very long way to visit finish our goal, yet be actually certain that my heart is actually along with you, and also know you reside in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final letter ... Luckily, it is actually been an active week up right here. And to confirm that, like our country, our company are advancing our designated pathway with company customarily (as long as feasible). Tonight the most recent enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will definitely be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (United States time), it is going to dock with our company, at a port never used just before on the low point side of the Service Element. This brand-new module will certainly offer our company an additional spot to dock a Progress or even Soyuz as well as will definitely deliver a big airlock along with pair of useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our company will definitely do a few of prior to we come home.The concern before in taking care of today was actually insufficient information. The issue now is a lot of. It came simultaneously when e-mail was actually brought back, and there is actually insufficient opportunity to read it all! Plus it's too difficult to manage all of it simultaneously. But I enjoy getting it, and I definitely cherish the great characters of support and also friendship I am actually receiving.Our company are flourishing aboard, acquiring our job carried out, and discussing things. Last evening our experts had a lengthy discussion over supper about the value of these events, the achievable actions to observe, as well as what need to be actually performed. After supper, Michael resolved telling me that every email he obtained coming from close friends in Russia claimed exclusively to tell me how regretful they were that this occurred, extending their condolences, as well as talking to just how I was actually doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are actually considerably extremely lengthy to pronounce easily.) Quite types individuals.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to send online broadcasts of broadcast information about the occasion and linked tales, to make certain I was well educated. Every professional that has started free throw line to cover an operation or a problem contends some factor extended greetings to me with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that because of the big day of remembrance in the US, all day folks had been actually delivering florals and edging all the wall structures of the United States consulate in Moscow, as well as this night they were actually lighting candle lights in the road outside the consular office. Exactly how the planet has changed.Folks almost everywhere seem to be to realize the senselessness and scary in this particular assault. And the incredible reduction. Moscow has taken care of these sort of problems in the final couple of years along with apartment and subway battles, so they are actually as nervous to get rid of this threat as we are actually. Yet the bottom product line is that there are actually excellent folks everywhere that intend to reside in tranquility. I read through that a little one inquired, "United States is therefore really good to other nations, our company consistently assist everybody, exactly how can they loathe our team a great deal?".I really hope the instance of teamwork and rely on that this space capsule plus all people in the course demonstrate daily are going to sooner or later encourage the remainder of the planet to work the same way. They must!Unfortunately, our company won't be piloting over the US while individuals are actually igniting candle lights. Do not understand if our company can find that in any case. We performed, nonetheless, view a quite unusual and also wonderful attraction a few minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were actually overtaking it and also it came into view concerning three minutes after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sun hit our terminal, so it was still unaware. It resembled a huge comet along with a right, vast rear silhouetted against the black planet underneath. Despite some poor lighting for a while as the sunlight hit our home window at a low viewpoint, I took care of some video recording of it as first our team passed the rocket, and after that watched it start to catch up as it acquired height and also rate. I shot up until principal engine deadline and enhancer splitting up occurred equally as our experts moved toward sunup on the Himalayas. A remarkable view in a remarkable full week ...Life takes place, also precede. We're listed below to stay ... Frank.