.Editor's Note: The adhering to is actually the content of a letter coming from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reflecting on the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created significantly about specifics of this objective throughout the month I've been actually here, mostly for two reasons: the initial being that there has actually been actually incredibly little bit of opportunity to carry out that kind of creating, and also secondly due to the fact that I am actually not sure just how comfortable I am actually sharing notions I show family and friends with the remainder of the planet.Well, obviously the globe modified today. What I state or perform is very minor reviewed to the importance of what occurred to our country today when it was struck through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I presume. Hard to know at whom to direct our anger and worry ...I had actually merely ended up a lot of tasks today, the absolute most lengthy being the physical examinations of all team members. In an exclusive chat following that, the air travel surgeon informed me they were having a quite poor day on the ground. I possessed no idea ...He explained the scenario to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was made speechless, at that point alarmed. My 1st notion was that this had not been a true discussion, that I was actually still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to seem achievable on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't also visualize the details, also prior to the news of further destruction began being available in.Vladimir came fairly rapidly, picking up that one thing really major was actually being gone over. I swung Michael into the module also. They were actually also astounded and also stunned. After our experts authorized off, I attempted to clarify to Vladimir and also Michael as finest I could the prospective immensity of the act of fear in midtown Manhattan and at the Pentagon. They precisely understood as well as were actually very sympathetic.I browsed the Globe Map on the pc to view where over the globe our team were and also noticed that we were coming southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be actually skipping New England in a couple of moments. I zoomed around the station up until I discovered a window that will provide me a perspective of NYC and got the local video camera. It happened to become a camera, and I was appearing south coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to possess a weird flower to it at the base of the pillar that was streaming south of the urban area. After going through one of the news articles our team merely got, I believe our team were actually checking out NY around the amount of time of, or quickly after, the collapse of the second high rise. Just how horrible ...I swept the cam all along the East Shore to the south to find if I could see some other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing at all was visible.It was actually fairly tough to think of work afterwards, though our company possessed some to perform, however on the upcoming track our company traversed the US more southern. All three people were operating a couple of cameras to make an effort to receive viewpoints of New York or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, however no particular resource could be found. It all appeared incredible coming from a couple of hundred miles away. I can't envision the heartbreaking settings on the ground.Aside from the psychological influence of our nation being actually attacked and also countless our consumers and also maybe some buddies being eliminated, the best frustrating emotion being actually where I am is just one of isolation.Upcoming day ... I reckon the exhaustion as well as emotional tension got the most ideal of me. I could not remain awake and remain to write. Today was actually still complicated, but our experts began obtaining additional info, plus we had the respect of talking directly along with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our team that the ground staffs would certainly remain to operate as well as guarantee our safety and security, and also the safe function of the Station. Our experts additionally heard from our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, that added that the partners in the Plan are all totally committed to continuing safe operations and also support. These were actually certainly never inquiries for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground staffs have been actually incredibly encouraging, very understanding of the effect of the headlines, and also have attempted to be as handy as feasible. They have actually all been actually incredibly qualified as well as centered though I can not visualize the interruption of this type of headlines coming in as well as the idea that federal government properties might be in jeopardy. They never ever missed a beat, also when transferring nerve center. And also a team of elderly personnel and buddies gave our company a pretty extensive instruction about what was recognized and also what was actually being actually performed in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually really handy and also sort of them to do in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been actually supporting and also practical, making an effort to uplink news articles when our own properties were actually unusable, and claiming kind words ...My crewmates have been actually wonderful, also. They understand it's been actually a challenging day for me and also the people on the ground, and they have actually made an effort to be as also keeled and also practical as achievable. Michael even fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me a lot of room to presume when I required it. They are quite understanding and also obviously outraged at whoever would certainly do this.I recognize a lot of people in Washington, plenty of people who journey to DC and also NYC, plenty of who are actually captains, that I experienced certain I would receive a minimum of a handful of items of trouble over the following couple of days. I obtained the initial one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that hit the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I met Chic in the course of plebe summer when we resided in the D&B all together, and our team possessed bunches of courses all together. I can not picture what he should of looked at, as well as currently I hear that he might have risen even more than our company can even think of through perhaps stopping his airplane coming from being the one to deal with the White Property. What a horrible reduction, however I make certain Chic was actually fighting bravely throughout. And also splits don't stream the very same in space ...It is actually challenging to explain exactly how it really feels to become the only American entirely off the planet at once such as this. The feeling that I need to exist with each one of you, handling this, assisting in some way, is difficult. I recognize that our experts perform the threshold (or past) of a horrendous shift in the history of the globe. Several traits will certainly never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Not only for the 1000s as well as 1000s of individuals straight affected by these ghastly acts of terrorism, yet perhaps for everyone. We will definitely discover our own selves really feeling in a different way concerning loads of factors, featuring probably area expedition, unfortunately.It's terrible to see smoke cigarettes putting coming from cuts in your own country from such a great point of view. The dichotomy of getting on a spacecraft dedicated to boosting life on the planet and viewing life being actually ruined through such willful, terrible actions is actually jolting to the psyche, regardless of that you are. And also the know-how that whatever are going to be various than when our company launched due to the opportunity our experts land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our leadership that we will definitely perform whatever feasible to far better defend her as well as our families, and to carry justice for what has actually been actually performed. I possess confidence that the great individuals at NASA are going to do every thing essential to proceed our mission properly and also return our company carefully at the correct time. And also I overlook all of you significantly. I can not exist along with you face to face, and also we have a very long way to visit complete our goal, however be actually specific that my center is along with you, as well as understand you reside in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... Luckily, it is actually been an occupied week up right here. And to verify that, like our nation, our company are continuing our planned course with company as usual (as much as possible). Tonight the current enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment will be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US opportunity), it will certainly dock along with our team, at a slot certainly never made use of prior to on the low point edge of the Service Component. This new module will offer our team an additional location to dock a Development or even Soyuz and also are going to give a big airlock along with 2 able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which we will perform a few of before our company get back.The concern before in handling recently was insufficient news. The issue now is actually excessive. It arrived at one time when email was restored, and there's not enough opportunity to read all of it! Plus it is actually also hard to take care of all of it instantly. Yet I value receiving it, and also I definitely appreciate the fantastic characters of support and friendship I am actually receiving.Our experts are doing well on board, getting our job done, and discussing factors. Last evening our company possessed a lengthy conversation over supper about the importance of these activities, the feasible activities to adhere to, and what must be done. After dinner, Michael resolved informing me that every e-mail he acquired from good friends in Russia mentioned primarily to inform me exactly how sorry they were that this happened, prolonging their condolences, as well as asking just how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English words are a lot too lengthy to pronounce effortlessly.) Incredibly kind individuals.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to send live programs of radio news concerning the activity and also affiliated tales, to ensure I was properly educated. Every expert that has begun the line to talk about a method or even a concern contends some aspect prolonged greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our team that as a result of the wedding of recognition in the US, throughout the day people had actually been bringing blossoms and also edging all the wall surfaces of the US consulate in Moscow, as well as this evening they were actually igniting candle lights in the street outside the embassy. Exactly how the world has actually modified.Individuals everywhere appear to identify the senselessness and also horror in this particular strike. And the tremendous reduction. Moscow has handled these kind of issues in the final handful of years with house and subway bombings, so they are actually as distressed to do away with this danger as our experts are actually. But the bottom series is actually that there are excellent individuals anywhere that wish to reside in tranquility. I check out that a kid inquired, "The United States is actually therefore good to other nations, we always aid everybody, how can they dislike our company so much?".I wish the instance of participation and rely on that this space capsule plus all people in the system illustrate daily will one day influence the remainder of the world to function the same way. They must!Sadly, our experts will not be actually piloting over the United States during the time people are actually igniting candle lights. Do not recognize if our experts could view that anyway. Our experts performed, nevertheless, see an extremely unique and gorgeous view a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. Our company were actually eclipsing it and also it emerged about three moments after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sun reached our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It resembled a huge comet along with a straight, vast tail silhouetted against the darker planet beneath. Regardless of some negative lighting fixtures for a while as the sunshine reached our home window at a low position, I took care of some video recording of it as to begin with our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that saw it begin to mesmerize as it got height and also rate. I filmed until main motor cutoff and booster splitting up happened just like our experts came close to daybreak on the Himalayas. A remarkable sight in an extraordinary week ...Life takes place, even precede. We are actually listed below to stay ... Frank.