.Publisher's Note: The adhering to is the text message of a character from Exploration Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reviewing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created very much regarding specifics of this particular goal during the course of the month I have actually been below, mainly for two reasons: the 1st being actually that there has been really little bit of time to accomplish that sort of writing, as well as also due to the fact that I'm not sure how relaxed I am sharing thoughts I show friends and family with the rest of the globe.Effectively, definitely the planet altered today. What I point out or even carry out is actually really slight contrasted to the implication of what took place to our country today when it was attacked through ... through whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I suspect. Difficult to understand at whom to route our anger and concern ...I had actually simply ended up a lot of duties today, the best lengthy being actually the physical exams of all workers members. In a personal chat adhering to that, the tour specialist informed me they were actually possessing a quite poor day on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He defined the scenario to me as ideal he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was dumbfounded, after that horrified. My 1st idea was actually that this had not been an actual discussion, that I was still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It simply failed to seem to be achievable on this incrustation in our nation. I couldn't also envision the particulars, even prior to the news of more devastation started can be found in.Vladimir came pretty promptly, noticing that something extremely serious was being actually reviewed. I swung Michael in to the element also. They were additionally impressed as well as stunned. After our experts signed off, I made an effort to detail to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I might the prospective immensity of this particular act of terror in midtown New york as well as at the Pentagon. They clearly recognized as well as were incredibly understanding.I eyed the World Map on the personal computer to observe where over the globe our team were actually as well as discovered that our experts were happening southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be passing over New England in a handful of mins. I zipped around the station till I discovered a home window that would give me a scenery of New York City as well as got the nearby video camera. It happened to become a video camera, and I was appearing southern coming from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to have a weird bloom to it at the bottom of the column that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After checking out one of the newspaper article our company simply obtained, I feel we were checking out NY around the amount of time of, or even not long after, the failure of the second tower. How terrible ...I panned the electronic camera all along the East Shoreline to the south to see if I might observe some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, but absolutely nothing was visible.It was quite complicated to think about job afterwards, though our team possessed some to do, but on the next orbit we moved across the US additional southern. All 3 of us were actually functioning one or two electronic cameras to attempt to get scenery of New york city or Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no details source may be viewed. It all appeared amazing from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can't think of the awful settings on the ground.Aside from the mental impact of our nation being tackled and 1000s of our people and also possibly some buddies being gotten rid of, the absolute most frustrating emotion being where I am is one of isolation.Following time ... I guess the exhaustion as well as emotional strain acquired the greatest of me. I could not stay awake and continue to compose. Today was actually still hard, yet our experts started obtaining additional info, plus our company had the tribute of talking directly with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that ensured us that the ground groups will remain to operate and also guarantee our security, and also the secure procedure of the Place. We additionally learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, that included that the companions in the Course are actually all absolutely committed to carrying on risk-free procedures and also help. These were actually never ever inquiries for me. I know all these individuals! The ground teams have actually been actually extremely encouraging, really understanding of the impact of the updates, as well as have made an effort to become as beneficial as achievable. They have actually all been incredibly expert and also focused though I can't imagine the distraction of the form of updates coming in as well as the idea that federal government buildings could be vulnerable. They certainly never bypassed a beat, also when moving nerve center. And also a team of senior workers and also friends gave our company a quite extensive briefing on what was actually recognized and also what was actually being carried out in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually very useful and sort of all of them to carry out in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been supportive and handy, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our personal resources were actually unusable, and claiming kind words ...My crewmates have actually been actually great, also. They recognize it's been actually a tough time for me and the folks on the ground, as well as they have actually made an effort to become as also keeled and valuable as possible. Michael even fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they offer me loads of room to assume when I needed it. They are actually extremely sympathetic and certainly outraged at whoever will do this.I recognize so many people in Washington, many individuals who take a trip to DC and also New York City, a lot of that are aviators, that I felt certain I will obtain at the very least a couple of pieces of problem over the upcoming handful of times. I got the very first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that reached the Government was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I encountered Chic during plebe summer season when our experts remained in the D&B together, and we possessed great deals of lessons together. I can not picture what he should of gone through, as well as right now I listen to that he may possess climbed further than our team can also consider through possibly stopping his plane from being the one to tackle the White Property. What an awful reduction, yet I'm sure Chic was battling bravely throughout. And rips do not move the very same precede ...It's challenging to illustrate how it feels to be the only United States fully off the planet at a time like this. The feeling that I should exist along with each of you, dealing with this, aiding in some way, is mind-boggling. I recognize that our team get on the threshold (or beyond) of a dreadful switch in the history of the globe. Several factors are going to never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the 1000s and also thousands of individuals directly affected through these hideous process of violence, yet possibly for everyone. We will certainly locate ourselves really feeling differently regarding lots of factors, featuring perhaps room exploration, regrettably.It's unpleasant to see smoke putting from cuts in your very own country from such a fantastic point of view. The duality of getting on a space capsule dedicated to boosting live on the earth and also viewing lifestyle being actually destroyed by such deliberate, dreadful process is jolting to the mind, no matter that you are actually. And the knowledge that everything will certainly be various than when our company introduced by the opportunity we land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our nation as well as in our leadership that we are going to do everything achievable to better guard her as well as our loved ones, and to carry fair treatment for what has actually been actually done. I possess self-confidence that the good people at NASA will definitely carry out every thing necessary to continue our purpose properly as well as return us safely at the right time. As well as I miss each of you very much. I can't be there with you in person, and also we possess a long way to visit complete our goal, yet be particular that my heart is actually with you, as well as know you remain in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final character ... The good news is, it is actually been a hectic full week up listed here. And to confirm that, like our country, our experts are actually continuing our intended pathway along with service as usual (as much as feasible). Tonight the latest add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Area are going to be introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States time), it is going to dock with our company, at a slot certainly never used prior to on the nadir side of the Service Element. This brand-new element will offer our company one more place to dock a Development or Soyuz and will supply a sizable airlock with two able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our company will certainly perform a few of before our team get back.The issue just before in dealing with today was insufficient information. The problem today is actually way too much. It came at one time when email was rejuvenated, and there is actually insufficient time to review everything! Plus it is actually too difficult to cope with all of it at the same time. However I enjoy obtaining it, and I really value the wonderful letters of help and friendship I am actually receiving.Our experts are actually succeeding aboard, obtaining our job done, and also referring to traits. Final evening our team possessed a lengthy conversation over supper concerning the significance of these events, the possible activities to observe, and what ought to be carried out. After dinner, Michael resolved informing me that every email he obtained from friends in Russia claimed exclusively to inform me just how sorry they were that this occurred, extending their condolences, and also asking how I was actually performing. Vladimir educated me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English phrases are actually much too lengthy to verbalize conveniently.) Incredibly kind people.For the final pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transfer online shows of radio information concerning the event and also connected accounts, to ensure I was well informed. Every expert that has actually started the line to cover a technique or even a trouble has at some point expanded greetings to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that due to the big day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day folks had been actually delivering flowers as well as lining all the wall structures of the US consular office in Moscow, and this evening they were lighting candles in the road outside the consulate. Just how the planet has actually modified.Individuals just about everywhere appear to acknowledge the senselessness and horror in this assault. As well as the incredible reduction. Moscow has taken care of these sort of problems in the final few years with apartment and also subway battles, so they are as nervous to eliminate this threat as our company are actually. But the bottom line is that there are actually great people just about everywhere who want to reside in peace. I go through that a kid inquired, "The United States is thus excellent to other nations, our company constantly help everybody, how can they despise our team so much?".I wish the instance of teamwork and also count on that this spacecraft plus all the people in the program demonstrate daily are going to someday encourage the rest of the planet to function similarly. They must!Regrettably, our experts will not be actually flighting over the US during the time individuals are actually lighting candlesticks. Do not know if we can observe that anyhow. We did, nonetheless, find a really unique as well as gorgeous attraction a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were surpassing it as well as it came into view regarding 3 mins after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sun reached our station, so it was actually still in the dark. It looked like a big comet along with a right, broad tail silhouetted versus the dark world underneath. Even with some poor lighting for some time as the sunlight reached our home window at a reduced position, I handled some online video of it as to begin with our team passed the spacecraft, and afterwards enjoyed it start to catch up as it obtained altitude as well as velocity. I recorded until principal engine cutoff as well as booster separation took place just like our experts moved toward sunrise on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable sight in a remarkable full week ...Life happens, also in space. Our company're listed here to keep ... Frank.