.Publisher's Note: The complying with is actually the text of a letter coming from Trip 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), assessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed quite about specifics of this particular goal during the course of the month I've been right here, mainly for two factors: the 1st being that there has actually been extremely little opportunity to carry out that type of composing, and the second thing is due to the fact that I'm uncertain exactly how pleasant I am discussing thought and feelings I show to family and friends along with the remainder of the planet.Effectively, definitely the globe transformed today. What I claim or even perform is actually incredibly small contrasted to the implication of what happened to our nation today when it was attacked by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I suspect. Challenging to know at whom to guide our anger and also worry ...I had simply finished a number of duties this morning, the absolute most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all staff members. In a personal talk complying with that, the air travel doctor informed me they were actually having an incredibly bad day on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He described the circumstance to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was overwhelmed, then alarmed. My 1st thought was that this wasn't a true conversation, that I was still listening to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It only didn't seem feasible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even picture the particulars, even before the updates of more devastation began being available in.Vladimir dropped in pretty rapidly, noticing that one thing extremely major was being actually explained. I waved Michael right into the module at the same time. They were actually additionally blown away and stunned. After our company signed off, I tried to explain to Vladimir and also Michael as finest I could possibly the prospective size of this act of horror in downtown New york as well as at the Pentagon. They plainly knew and were quite supportive.I eyed the World Map on the personal computer to view where over the world our experts were as well as saw that our experts were happening southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be actually skipping New England in a couple of minutes. I zoomed around the station till I discovered a window that would provide me a perspective of NYC and also ordered the closest camera. It happened to become a camera, as well as I was actually appearing south coming from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke seemed to be to possess a weird blossom to it at the base of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the city. After checking out one of the newspaper article we just got, I believe we were considering NY around the amount of time of, or shortly after, the crash of the 2nd tower. Exactly how dreadful ...I swept the electronic camera during the East Coast to the south to view if I might view any other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing was visible.It was actually fairly difficult to deal with job after that, though our team possessed some to carry out, but on the next track our team moved across the United States more southern. All three of us were working one or two video cameras to try to get scenery of The big apple or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no details resource might be observed. Everything appeared awesome coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not picture the heartbreaking scenes on the ground.Other than the psychological effect of our nation being dealt with and hundreds of our citizens as well as perhaps some friends being actually eliminated, the best mind-boggling emotion being actually where I am actually is among isolation.Upcoming time ... I suspect the exhaustion as well as psychological stress got the very best of me. I couldn't keep awake as well as remain to compose. Today was actually still challenging, however we started receiving more information, plus our experts possessed the honor of chatting straight along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that assured our company that the ground staffs would remain to function as well as ensure our safety and security, along with the secure procedure of the Place. Our experts likewise talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that included that the partners in the System are actually all completely devoted to continuing secure procedures as well as assistance. These were never concerns for me. I understand all these individuals! The ground groups have been actually extremely supporting, really understanding of the effect of the information, and have made an effort to become as practical as possible. They have all been very specialist and also centered though I can not picture the distraction of this particular sort of information being available in and also the idea that government properties might be in jeopardy. They never bypassed a beat, also when relocating control centers. As well as a team of elderly staffs and friends provided our team a pretty comprehensive instruction about what was actually known and what was being carried out in the government and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was quite practical as well as type of all of them to perform in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been encouraging and also handy, trying to uplink newspaper article when our personal resources were actually unusable, and pointing out kind phrases ...My crewmates have been terrific, also. They recognize it is actually been actually a tough day for me as well as the folks on the ground, and also they have actually tried to be as also keeled and practical as feasible. Michael even corrected me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. And they give me plenty of space to presume when I needed it. They are actually extremely thoughtful as well as naturally outraged at whoever would do this.I know many people in Washington, numerous people that journey to DC and New York City, so many who are aviators, that I felt certain I would obtain a minimum of a couple of parts of trouble over the next couple of times. I received the 1st one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that hit the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of cadet summer when we remained in the D&B with each other, and also our experts had tons of training class with each other. I can't imagine what he must of gone through, as well as right now I hear that he may possess climbed better than our team can easily even think about through probably avoiding his plane from being actually the one to tackle the White Residence. What a horrendous reduction, but I make certain Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. As well as splits don't stream the exact same in space ...It is actually difficult to define how it really feels to be the only United States fully off the world at a time such as this. The emotion that I need to be there with every one of you, handling this, helping in some way, is overwhelming. I know that we perform the threshold (or past) of a dreadful shift in the record of the world. Lots of factors are going to certainly never be the same again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the 1000s and also 1000s of people straight impacted by these hideous acts of terrorism, yet perhaps for everybody. We will definitely find ourselves experiencing in a different way regarding loads of things, consisting of most likely room expedition, unfortunately.It is actually dreadful to see smoke putting from cuts in your own country coming from such an awesome viewpoint. The dichotomy of getting on a space probe dedicated to improving life on the earth as well as viewing lifestyle being actually ruined through such deliberate, awful acts is jolting to the subconscious, no matter that you are actually. And also the understanding that every little thing will definitely be actually different than when our experts introduced by the time our company land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and also in our management that we will do every thing achievable to far better shield her as well as our loved ones, and to carry fair treatment wherefore has been actually performed. I have confidence that the good folks at NASA will certainly do whatever needed to proceed our goal securely and return our company safely and securely at the right time. As well as I miss all of you quite. I can not be there along with you face to face, and our team possess a very long way to head to accomplish our purpose, but be certain that my center is actually along with you, and understand you are in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final character ... Thankfully, it's been a busy full week up below. And to verify that, like our nation, our experts are actually advancing our planned pathway with business as usual (as much as feasible). Tonight the most up to date addition to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment will be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (US time), it is going to dock along with our company, at a port certainly never used before on the low point edge of the Solution Module. This brand-new module will give our team another place to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also will definitely give a huge airlock with pair of able to be used hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our company will definitely perform a few of before our team return.The trouble just before in dealing with this week was actually inadequate information. The issue now is too much. It arrived simultaneously when e-mail was restored, and also there is actually not nearly enough time to review everything! Plus it is actually also tough to cope with all of it simultaneously. Yet I enjoy acquiring it, as well as I definitely value the great letters of assistance and also companionship I am actually getting.We are succeeding aboard, receiving our work carried out, and talking about factors. Last night we had a lengthy conversation over supper concerning the implication of these activities, the possible actions to follow, and what must be actually carried out. After dinner, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he acquired from friends in Russia mentioned particularly to tell me just how regretful they were that this taken place, stretching their condolences, and also talking to just how I was actually doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Area. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually considerably very lengthy to verbalize quickly.) Quite types individuals.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has been good enough to transfer live broadcasts of broadcast headlines concerning the celebration and affiliated tales, to make sure I was actually properly educated. Every specialist who has actually come on free throw line to discuss a method or even a concern has at some point extended hellos to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that due to the wedding of recognition in the United States, all day people had been actually taking flowers and edging all the walls of the United States consulate in Moscow, and this night they were igniting candle lights in the street outside the consular office. Just how the globe has changed.Individuals all over seem to realize the senselessness as well as terror in this attack. And the significant reduction. Moscow has managed these sort of problems in the last handful of years along with flat as well as train battles, so they are as distressed to do away with this danger as we are actually. But all-time low product line is that there are really good individuals almost everywhere who desire to live in tranquility. I review that a youngster asked, "United States is so great to other countries, our company constantly assist everyone, exactly how can they despise our team a great deal?".I really hope the instance of collaboration and trust that this space probe and all people in the program illustrate daily are going to one day inspire the remainder of the planet to work the same way. They must!However, our experts won't be actually flighting over the US during the time individuals are igniting candles. Do not recognize if our experts could observe that anyhow. Our team carried out, nonetheless, find a very uncommon and also wonderful attraction a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. We were overtaking it and also it came into view regarding 3 mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sun attacked our station, so it was actually still at night. It resembled a large comet along with a straight, broad tail silhouetted versus the black world beneath. In spite of some negative lighting for some time as the sunshine attacked our window at a low viewpoint, I took care of some video clip of it as initially our experts passed the rocket, and after that viewed it start to mesmerize as it gained altitude and also rate. I shot till principal engine cutoff and booster splitting up developed equally our team came close to daybreak on the Himalayas. A memorable view in an unforgettable week ...Lifestyle goes on, also precede. Our company're right here to remain ... Frank.