.Publisher's Note: The following is the text message of a letter coming from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created significantly about specifics of this objective in the course of the month I have actually been listed below, mainly for 2 reasons: the initial being that there has been actually quite little time to perform that type of composing, and also secondly given that I'm not sure how pleasant I am actually discussing thoughts I provide friends and family with the remainder of the planet.Effectively, undoubtedly the globe modified today. What I mention or even do is very slight compared to the value of what happened to our country today when it was struck by ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we know, I guess. Tough to know at whom to guide our temper and also worry ...I had only completed a lot of duties today, the most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all staff members. In a personal chat complying with that, the trip specialist informed me they were having an incredibly bad day on the ground. I possessed no suggestion ...He illustrated the circumstance to me as best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually thrown for a loop, after that terrified. My initial thought and feelings was actually that this wasn't a real chat, that I was still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It only didn't appear possible on this scale in our country. I could not even visualize the particulars, even before the headlines of further damage started can be found in.Vladimir came over fairly promptly, noticing that one thing quite significant was actually being actually talked about. I waved Michael into the module as well. They were actually also amazed and stunned. After our team authorized off, I attempted to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as finest I might the potential magnitude of this act of horror in downtown Manhattan and at the Government. They precisely knew as well as were actually incredibly sympathetic.I eyed the World Map on the personal computer to observe where over the world our experts were actually and observed that we were actually happening southeast away from Canada and would certainly be passing over New England in a few minutes. I zoomed around the station until I discovered a home window that would certainly provide me a sight of New York City as well as ordered the nearest camera. It happened to be a video camera, and also I was appearing south from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to have a strange bloom to it at the base of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the city. After reviewing among the news articles our experts simply received, I feel our company were looking at NY around the amount of time of, or not long after, the crash of the second tower. How dreadful ...I swept the cam all along the East Shore to the south to find if I might observe every other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing showed up.It was actually fairly difficult to consider work afterwards, though our team had some to perform, but on the next track our experts traversed the US further south. All three of us were actually working one or two cams to attempt to acquire sights of Nyc or even Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no specific resource could be found. It all looked extraordinary coming from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can not envision the tragic settings on the ground.Apart from the mental impact of our country being tackled as well as thousands of our citizens as well as maybe some close friends being eliminated, the absolute most difficult feeling being actually where I am is just one of solitude.Following day ... I suppose the tiredness as well as psychological stress acquired the most ideal of me. I couldn't stay awake as well as continue to compose. Today was still difficult, however our team began acquiring additional info, plus our team had the honor of chatting straight along with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that assured us that the ground staffs will continue to function and ensure our protection, and also the safe operation of the Station. Our experts also learnt through our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Program are all entirely dedicated to continuing secure functions as well as help. These were actually never inquiries for me. I know all these folks! The ground staffs have been exceptionally supporting, really understanding of the influence of the updates, as well as have attempted to become as helpful as feasible. They have actually all been actually quite expert and also concentrated though I can not envision the disturbance of the sort of news coming in as well as the thought that government structures could be vulnerable. They certainly never missed a beat, also when relocating nerve center. And a group of elderly staffs as well as buddies offered us a quite thorough rundown about what was actually understood and also what was actually being actually carried out in the government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was very beneficial as well as kind of all of them to perform in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been helpful and useful, attempting to uplink news articles when our personal possessions were actually inoperable, as well as mentioning kind terms ...My crewmates have been excellent, also. They know it is actually been actually a difficult day for me and the folks on the ground, and they've tried to become as even keeled and useful as feasible. Michael even corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. And they give me a lot of room to assume when I required it. They are incredibly thoughtful and also certainly outraged at whoever will perform this.I know so many folks in Washington, numerous folks that journey to DC as well as New York City, so many that are actually aviators, that I felt certain I will receive at the very least a couple of parts of bad news over the following few days. I acquired the initial one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that reached the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I encountered Chic during the course of cadet summertime when we remained in the D&B together, and also our team had great deals of classes with each other. I can not visualize what he has to of looked at, as well as right now I hear that he might have increased better than we may also consider through probably avoiding his airplane coming from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a dreadful loss, yet I ensure Chic was battling bravely to the end. As well as rips do not circulate the exact same precede ...It's difficult to illustrate exactly how it really feels to become the only American fully off the planet at a time like this. The feeling that I need to be there with every one of you, handling this, assisting in some way, is mind-boggling. I understand that our team perform the limit (or even past) of a terrible switch in the past of the globe. A lot of traits will definitely never ever be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the thousands and also hundreds of folks directly affected through these horrible process of terrorism, yet most likely for everyone. Our team will discover ourselves really feeling in different ways concerning dozens of traits, featuring perhaps room exploration, sadly.It is actually horrendous to view smoke cigarettes putting from cuts in your personal country from such an amazing angle. The dichotomy of getting on a spacecraft dedicated to enhancing daily life on the earth and viewing life being actually damaged by such intentional, dreadful actions is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of that you are actually. As well as the expertise that every little thing will be various than when our company launched by the opportunity our company land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and also in our leadership that we will definitely perform everything achievable to better safeguard her and our households, as well as to carry justice wherefore has been actually carried out. I possess peace of mind that the great people at NASA are going to carry out every thing necessary to proceed our mission safely and securely and also return our company carefully at the correct time. As well as I miss out on all of you very much. I can't exist with you personally, and our experts possess a very long way to go to complete our goal, yet be certain that my soul is along with you, and understand you remain in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last letter ... Thankfully, it is actually been a hectic full week up listed here. As well as to verify that, like our nation, our company are actually advancing our planned pathway with organization as usual (as long as feasible). Tonight the most up to date add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States time), it will certainly dock along with our company, at a slot certainly never used just before on the nadir side of the Service Module. This brand-new element is going to provide our team another spot to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and also will provide a large airlock with two able to be used hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our team will certainly carry out a few of before we return.The problem just before in dealing with this week was inadequate updates. The problem right now is actually a lot of. It came simultaneously when e-mail was recovered, as well as there's not nearly enough time to read everything! Plus it's also tough to deal with all of it at once. However I cherish obtaining it, and I really cherish the excellent characters of assistance as well as companionship I am actually obtaining.Our experts are actually succeeding on board, obtaining our job carried out, as well as talking about factors. Final night we possessed a lengthy discussion over dinner about the implication of these celebrations, the feasible actions to follow, and also what ought to be actually done. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every e-mail he obtained from friends in Russia stated primarily to inform me just how sorry they were actually that this happened, extending their acknowledgements, as well as inquiring how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir educated me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English words are a lot very lengthy to pronounce conveniently.) Incredibly types folks.For the final two times, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transmit live programs of radio information about the event and affiliated accounts, to make certain I was properly updated. Every professional who has come on free throw line to discuss a treatment or a trouble has at some point prolonged greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that as a result of the wedding of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day individuals had been actually delivering florals and also lining all the wall structures of the United States consulate in Moscow, as well as this night they were actually igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consular office. Exactly how the planet has actually altered.Folks everywhere seem to be to realize the senselessness and also scary in this particular assault. As well as the remarkable loss. Moscow has actually coped with these type of concerns in the last few years with house as well as train bombings, so they are actually as troubled to get rid of this threat as our experts are. But all-time low product line is that there are good people almost everywhere that intend to reside in calmness. I check out that a child asked, "America is actually thus great to various other nations, our company always help everyone, just how can they detest us a great deal?".I wish the example of teamwork and also trust that this spacecraft and all individuals in the system show daily will someday encourage the rest of the globe to function the same way. They must!Unfortunately, we won't be actually taking flight over the US during the time individuals are igniting candle lights. Don't understand if we could observe that anyhow. Our experts carried out, nonetheless, find an incredibly unique as well as stunning sight a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were overtaking it and it came into view regarding 3 minutes after its launch from Baikonur as the sunshine reached our station, so it was actually still at night. It resembled a sizable comet along with a right, wide tail silhouetted against the dark earth under. Despite some bad illumination for some time as the sun attacked our window at a reduced position, I managed some online video of it as to begin with our team passed the spacecraft, and after that viewed it begin to mesmerize as it acquired elevation and also speed. I shot till primary motor deadline as well as booster separation took place just like we moved toward sunup on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in a remarkable week ...Life happens, also in space. Our team are actually here to stay ... Frank.