.Editor's Details: The following is actually the text of a letter from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reviewing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written very much concerning specifics of this mission in the course of the month I have actually been actually right here, mainly for 2 main reasons: the 1st being that there has been actually very little time to do that type of composing, as well as second of all considering that I am actually not exactly sure exactly how comfy I am actually sharing ideas I show friends and family with the remainder of the planet.Effectively, undoubtedly the planet changed today. What I state or even do is extremely minor contrasted to the value of what occurred to our nation today when it was attacked by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I presume. Hard to know at whom to point our anger as well as concern ...I had actually only ended up a variety of tasks this morning, the most lengthy being the physical examinations of all workers participants. In an exclusive chat following that, the trip specialist informed me they were actually possessing a really negative time on the ground. I had no tip ...He illustrated the circumstance to me as best he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was amazed, at that point terrified. My very first thought was that this wasn't an actual discussion, that I was actually still listening to among my Tom Clancy strips. It simply didn't seem possible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't also visualize the particulars, also just before the headlines of more damage began can be found in.Vladimir dropped in fairly quickly, noticing that something quite severe was being explained. I swayed Michael right into the element too. They were additionally amazed and stunned. After our experts authorized off, I attempted to detail to Vladimir and also Michael as ideal I might the possible size of this act of terror in midtown Manhattan and at the Pentagon. They precisely understood and were actually incredibly understanding.I glanced at the Globe Chart on the personal computer to see where over the planet our experts were and observed that our team were happening southeast out of Canada and will be actually passing over New England in a handful of minutes. I zipped around the station till I located a home window that would give me a perspective of New York City as well as ordered the local camera. It happened to be a camera, and also I was actually looking south coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke appeared to have a strange flower to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the area. After going through among the newspaper article our experts simply obtained, I feel our experts were actually looking at NY around the moment of, or not long after, the collapse of the 2nd tower. Just how horrible ...I swung the electronic camera during the East Coast to the south to find if I could observe any other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was pretty hard to think of work afterwards, though our team had some to carry out, however on the next track our experts traversed the United States further south. All three of us were functioning 1 or 2 electronic cameras to try to acquire perspectives of New york city or even Washington. There was haze over Washington, yet no details source might be found. All of it appeared amazing from two to three hundred miles away. I can not think of the tragic settings on the ground.Besides the mental impact of our country being actually dealt with and thousands of our residents as well as perhaps some friends being gotten rid of, one of the most frustrating sensation being actually where I am is one of solitude.Next time ... I suppose the exhaustion and psychological tension received the best of me. I couldn't keep awake as well as continue to write. Today was still complicated, but we started obtaining additional info, plus our team had the respect of speaking directly along with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground groups will remain to work as well as ensure our protection, as well as the safe operation of the Station. We also spoke with our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that added that the partners in the Program are actually all absolutely devoted to proceeding safe operations and also assistance. These were certainly never questions for me. I know all these people! The ground staffs have actually been actually very helpful, really understanding of the effect of the updates, and have attempted to be as helpful as achievable. They have all been actually extremely expert and focused though I can't picture the disturbance of this form of news can be found in and the idea that federal government properties could be in jeopardy. They never ever avoided a beat, even when moving control centers. And a group of elderly personnel and also buddies gave us a fairly in depth rundown on what was actually known as well as what was actually being carried out in the federal government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was very handy and type of all of them to perform in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has likewise been encouraging and practical, trying to uplink news articles when our own assets were actually inoperable, and also pointing out kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been actually terrific, also. They understand it is actually been a difficult day for me and the people on the ground, and also they've attempted to be as even keeled as well as handy as feasible. Michael even corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. And also they provide me lots of room to assume when I needed it. They are very sympathetic and of course outraged at whoever will do this.I know many people in Washington, plenty of folks that travel to DC and New York City, numerous who are actually captains, that I felt sure I would get a minimum of a few parts of problem over the next handful of times. I obtained the first one today when I knew that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that attacked the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I found Chic during plebe summer when we remained in the D&B together, and our team possessed great deals of courses with each other. I can't envision what he needs to of experienced, as well as now I listen to that he might have climbed even more than we can easily also think about by perhaps stopping his plane from being actually the one to deal with the White Residence. What a horrendous reduction, yet I make certain Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. And rips do not move the very same precede ...It's hard to define just how it feels to be the only United States totally off the world each time including this. The sensation that I must be there along with each of you, managing this, assisting in some way, is actually frustrating. I recognize that our team get on the limit (or even beyond) of a dreadful switch in the past of the globe. Several factors will certainly never coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Not just for the thousands as well as countless folks directly impacted by these horrible acts of violence, yet perhaps for we all. We will definitely find ourselves feeling in different ways regarding loads of traits, including probably area expedition, however.It is actually terrible to see smoke cigarettes pouring from wounds in your personal country coming from such a superb angle. The duality of getting on a space probe devoted to enhancing live on the planet as well as watching life being actually destroyed by such conscious, awful acts is jolting to the psyche, despite who you are. And the understanding that everything are going to be actually different than when our team introduced by the time our company land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our nation as well as in our management that our team will perform everything feasible to far better safeguard her and also our households, and also to deliver compensation of what has actually been actually done. I possess confidence that the really good individuals at NASA will definitely perform every thing necessary to proceed our goal carefully and return our team safely at the right time. And I miss each of you quite. I can't be there along with you personally, and our team possess a long way to visit finish our objective, however be actually particular that my heart is with you, and also recognize you are in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last character ... Luckily, it is actually been an occupied week up right here. As well as to show that, like our nation, we are actually advancing our desired course with company customarily (as much as feasible). Tonight the latest addition to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment will be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (United States time), it will dock along with our team, at a port never utilized before on the low point edge of the Solution Element. This brand-new component will provide our team another location to dock a Development or even Soyuz as well as will certainly give a big airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our company will carry out a few of before our experts come home.The complication just before in dealing with today was actually insufficient news. The issue now is excessive. It came at one time when e-mail was actually rejuvenated, as well as there is actually inadequate time to review everything! Plus it is actually as well difficult to take care of all of it instantly. Yet I cherish obtaining it, as well as I really cherish the excellent characters of assistance and also relationship I am acquiring.We are actually doing well aboard, receiving our job carried out, and also speaking about traits. Last evening we had a long dialogue over supper regarding the value of these events, the feasible activities to comply with, as well as what should be actually performed. After supper, Michael made a point of telling me that every e-mail he obtained from pals in Russia said especially to tell me just how sorry they were that this happened, expanding their condolences, as well as inquiring exactly how I was actually doing. Vladimir educated me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star City. (Both the Russian and the English terms are much extremely lengthy to pronounce simply.) Really kind folks.For the last 2 days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit real-time shows of radio information regarding the activity and also linked stories, to make sure I was effectively informed. Every expert who has started the line to cover a procedure or even a concern has at some aspect extended hellos to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that because of the special day of recognition in the US, all the time people had been bringing flowers and lining all the walls of the US consulate in Moscow, and this evening they were actually lighting candles in the street outside the consulate. Just how the globe has transformed.People all over seem to acknowledge the senselessness and also horror within this attack. And also the incredible loss. Moscow has actually managed these kind of troubles in the last handful of years with flat and train battles, so they are actually as troubled to eliminate this danger as our experts are actually. But the bottom line is that there are actually excellent individuals just about everywhere who intend to live in tranquility. I review that a youngster asked, "United States is actually so excellent to other countries, we regularly help everyone, just how can they loathe us so much?".I hope the instance of teamwork as well as rely on that this space probe and all the people in the system illustrate daily are going to someday influence the remainder of the planet to operate similarly. They must!Sadly, our experts won't be actually flighting over the US while people are igniting candlesticks. Do not recognize if our team can see that anyhow. Our experts performed, however, observe a really unique as well as stunning view a handful of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were actually eclipsing it and it came into view about 3 minutes after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our station, so it was actually still in the dark. It seemed like a huge comet with a right, vast rear silhouetted versus the dark world under. Regardless of some poor illumination for a while as the sun reached our home window at a low angle, I took care of some video of it as to begin with our team passed the spacecraft, and then viewed it begin to mesmerize as it obtained altitude as well as velocity. I recorded until main motor cutoff as well as enhancer splitting up developed just as we moved toward dawn on the Himalayas. A remarkable attraction in a memorable week ...Lifestyle takes place, even precede. Our company are actually here to remain ... Frank.