.Publisher's Details: The following is actually the text message of a letter coming from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reassessing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created very much regarding specifics of the mission during the course of the month I have actually been listed below, mainly for pair of factors: the very first being actually that there has been actually really little bit of opportunity to do that kind of writing, and also also due to the fact that I'm not sure exactly how comfy I am discussing notions I share with family and friends with the rest of the planet.Well, undoubtedly the globe transformed today. What I mention or even do is actually quite minor reviewed to the value of what took place to our country today when it was actually struck by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I guess. Tough to understand at whom to guide our temper as well as fear ...I had actually only completed a number of jobs today, the most taxing being the physical exams of all crew members. In a private discussion adhering to that, the air travel specialist told me they were possessing a quite negative day on the ground. I had no tip ...He illustrated the condition to me as greatest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually flabbergasted, at that point horrified. My initial thought and feelings was that this wasn't a real conversation, that I was actually still listening closely to some of my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely really did not seem to be achievable on this incrustation in our country. I could not also envision the particulars, even before the updates of further destruction started coming in.Vladimir came pretty promptly, sensing that something very significant was being explained. I waved Michael into the element as well. They were actually likewise amazed as well as stunned. After we authorized off, I tried to detail to Vladimir and Michael as ideal I can the potential size of this particular act of fear in midtown New york and also at the Government. They clearly comprehended as well as were actually really understanding.I browsed the World Map on the computer to view where over the globe our experts were actually and discovered that our team were actually happening southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be actually passing over New England in a couple of mins. I zoomed around the station till I discovered a home window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City and snatched the local cam. It took place to become a camera, and I was actually appearing southern from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to be to have a strange flower to it at the foundation of the column that was streaming south of the city. After checking out among the news articles our team just got, I believe we were taking a look at NY around the time of, or even quickly after, the failure of the 2nd high rise. How horrible ...I panned the cam all along the East Coastline to the south to see if I could see any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing was visible.It was actually rather difficult to think about job afterwards, though our company had some to perform, however on the following orbit our experts traversed the United States additional south. All three of us were working one or two video cameras to make an effort to receive views of New York or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, however no certain resource may be found. All of it looked fabulous from a couple of hundred miles away. I can not picture the unfortunate scenes on the ground.Apart from the emotional influence of our country being tackled and also hundreds of our people and also perhaps some close friends being actually killed, the absolute most difficult sensation being where I am is among isolation.Upcoming day ... I suppose the tiredness and emotional stress obtained the most ideal of me. I couldn't remain awake and continue to compose. Today was actually still complicated, yet we began obtaining more relevant information, plus our company had the respect of chatting directly along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that ensured our company that the ground crews would certainly remain to operate and guarantee our safety and security, as well as the secure procedure of the Station. Our experts likewise learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, that added that the partners in the Program are all totally committed to carrying on safe operations as well as support. These were never ever questions for me. I know all these people! The ground groups have actually been astonishingly supporting, quite understanding of the impact of the news, and also have actually made an effort to be as valuable as possible. They have actually all been actually incredibly qualified as well as centered though I can not picture the diversion of this particular sort of news being available in and the thought that government structures might be in danger. They certainly never skipped a beat, even when relocating control centers. As well as a group of elderly employees and close friends offered our team a quite complete rundown about what was understood and also what was being carried out in the government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was incredibly handy and also type of them to accomplish in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been helpful and handy, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our personal possessions were unusable, as well as mentioning kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been actually excellent, too. They recognize it's been a challenging time for me and the individuals on the ground, and they have actually attempted to be as even keeled and also handy as achievable. Michael also corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. And they provide me loads of room to believe when I needed it. They are incredibly thoughtful and certainly shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I know a lot of folks in Washington, a lot of people who travel to DC and also NYC, numerous who are aviators, that I felt certain I would certainly acquire a minimum of a couple of pieces of problem over the following handful of times. I obtained the very first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that reached the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I met Chic in the course of plebe summer season when our company were in the D&B with each other, and also our company possessed considerable amounts of training class all together. I can't visualize what he has to of gone through, and also right now I listen to that he may have increased even more than our company can easily also consider by probably preventing his aircraft from being the one to deal with the White Home. What an awful reduction, however I'm sure Chic was actually dealing with bravely to the end. As well as splits don't circulate the very same precede ...It's hard to define just how it feels to be the only United States entirely off the world at a time such as this. The sensation that I must exist with each of you, taking care of this, helping somehow, is frustrating. I know that we get on the limit (or even past) of a terrible change in the history of the world. Lots of factors will never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the manies thousand and countless folks directly influenced through these horrendous actions of violence, however possibly for we all. We will certainly find our own selves really feeling in different ways regarding dozens of things, featuring probably space expedition, sadly.It's terrible to find smoke cigarettes putting from cuts in your very own nation coming from such an excellent viewpoint. The dichotomy of performing a space capsule dedicated to improving daily life on the earth and also viewing life being actually destroyed through such unforced, awful actions is jolting to the psyche, despite that you are. And the understanding that every little thing will be actually different than when we introduced by the time our company land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our management that we are going to carry out every little thing achievable to far better protect her as well as our family members, as well as to deliver justice wherefore has actually been actually done. I possess confidence that the good individuals at NASA are going to perform everything needed to continue our goal carefully as well as return our team properly at the right time. As well as I overlook each one of you quite. I can not exist along with you face to face, and we have a very long way to visit complete our mission, but be particular that my heart is actually along with you, and understand you remain in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last letter ... The good news is, it's been actually an active week up listed below. And to confirm that, like our nation, our company are continuing our intended road with business as usual (as long as achievable). Tonight the current addition to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be actually launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States opportunity), it will certainly dock with our team, at a slot never utilized just before on the nadir side of the Solution Module. This new element is going to provide our team another place to dock a Progress or even Soyuz and also will definitely offer a huge airlock with pair of able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our experts will perform a few of prior to our experts get home.The trouble before in taking care of recently was too little news. The trouble today is actually way too much. It came simultaneously when e-mail was recovered, as well as there is actually inadequate opportunity to read everything! Plus it is actually too hard to manage all of it at once. But I value obtaining it, and I truly enjoy the fantastic characters of support as well as friendship I am obtaining.Our experts are actually succeeding aboard, obtaining our job performed, and talking about factors. Last evening our company possessed a lengthy conversation over dinner concerning the implication of these occasions, the achievable activities to observe, and what should be carried out. After dinner, Michael resolved informing me that every e-mail he got coming from good friends in Russia pointed out particularly to tell me just how regretful they were that this taken place, expanding their acknowledgements, and talking to how I was carrying out. Vladimir instructed me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually considerably too long to articulate easily.) Extremely types individuals.For the final 2 times, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transfer online broadcasts of broadcast information concerning the activity and affiliated tales, to make certain I was actually effectively notified. Every specialist who has actually started free throw line to explain a treatment or even a problem has at some factor prolonged greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that because of the wedding day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day folks had been carrying blooms and edging all the walls of the US embassy in Moscow, as well as this night they were igniting candlesticks in the street outside the consular office. Exactly how the globe has modified.Individuals just about everywhere seem to be to acknowledge the senselessness as well as scary within this attack. And also the significant loss. Moscow has dealt with these kind of concerns in the final few years along with flat and train battles, so they are as troubled to get rid of this threat as we are. However the bottom line is that there are excellent folks all over that would like to live in peace. I go through that a child asked, "America is actually so really good to other nations, our experts always help everybody, just how can they hate our company a lot?".I wish the example of participation and trust that this spacecraft and all individuals in the plan illustrate daily will someday influence the rest of the world to function the same way. They must!However, we won't be actually taking flight over the United States during the time individuals are igniting candlesticks. Do not understand if we might find that anyhow. Our experts did, having said that, find a really uncommon as well as lovely attraction a handful of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. Our company were actually surpassing it and also it appeared regarding three moments after its launch from Baikonur as the sunshine struck our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It resembled a large comet with a directly, vast rear silhouetted against the black world below. Despite some poor illumination for some time as the sunlight struck our window at a low perspective, I handled some video of it as to begin with we passed the rocket, and after that viewed it begin to catch up as it got height and rate. I filmed until major engine cutoff as well as enhancer separation occurred equally our experts came close to sunrise on the Mountain ranges. An extraordinary attraction in an extraordinary full week ...Life happens, even in space. Our experts're listed here to keep ... Frank.