.Publisher's Details: The following is the message of a character from Trip Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reassessing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed significantly concerning specifics of the objective during the month I've been actually right here, generally for 2 factors: the very first being that there has actually been incredibly little bit of time to do that type of writing, and furthermore, considering that I am actually not exactly sure just how comfy I am sharing thought and feelings I show to family and friends with the remainder of the planet.Effectively, certainly the world changed today. What I claim or perform is actually extremely small compared to the importance of what took place to our nation today when it was actually attacked by ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I reckon. Difficult to know at whom to route our anger as well as fear ...I had actually merely ended up a number of activities today, the best taxing being the physical examinations of all workers participants. In a personal talk following that, the flight cosmetic surgeon informed me they were possessing an extremely bad time on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He illustrated the condition to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually dumbfounded, then alarmed. My first thought and feelings was actually that this wasn't an actual chat, that I was actually still listening to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It simply really did not seem achievable on this scale in our nation. I could not also picture the details, also prior to the information of additional devastation began being available in.Vladimir dropped in quite promptly, sensing that one thing really severe was actually being actually gone over. I waved Michael into the element also. They were actually additionally blown away and stunned. After our experts signed off, I made an effort to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as greatest I could possibly the potential size of this particular act of terror in midtown Manhattan as well as at the Government. They accurately recognized and were actually extremely compassionate.I glanced at the Globe Map on the personal computer to view where over the planet we were actually as well as discovered that we were happening southeast away from Canada and would be actually skipping New England in a handful of mins. I whized around the station until I discovered a window that will offer me a scenery of New York City and got hold of the nearest video camera. It occurred to become a camera, and also I was looking southern coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have an odd flower to it at the foundation of the column that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After checking out among the newspaper article our company simply got, I think our team were actually looking at NY around the time of, or not long after, the failure of the second tower. Exactly how horrible ...I panned the electronic camera the whole time the East Shoreline to the south to observe if I can see any other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing at all was visible.It was fairly difficult to think of job afterwards, though our experts had some to do, yet on the following orbit we moved across the United States more southern. All 3 people were actually working a couple of cams to try to get scenery of The big apple or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, however no certain resource may be found. It all looked awesome from two to three hundred miles away. I can't visualize the unfortunate settings on the ground.Besides the emotional influence of our country being attacked and countless our people and also maybe some friends being actually killed, the absolute most frustrating feeling being where I am is just one of seclusion.Next day ... I presume the tiredness and mental stress obtained the very best of me. I couldn't remain awake as well as remain to compose. Today was still complicated, but our experts started receiving more relevant information, plus our company had the tribute of talking directly with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our company that the ground teams will remain to operate and guarantee our security, along with the secure operation of the Station. Our team likewise learnt through our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Course are actually all absolutely committed to carrying on secure functions as well as assistance. These were never ever concerns for me. I know all these people! The ground crews have been unbelievably helpful, quite understanding of the influence of the headlines, as well as have made an effort to become as practical as feasible. They have all been quite professional and centered though I can't envision the disturbance of the sort of headlines can be found in and the notion that authorities properties might be in jeopardy. They certainly never avoided a beat, also when relocating nerve center. As well as a group of elderly workers as well as buddies offered us a pretty thorough briefing about what was understood and what was actually being actually carried out in the government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was quite helpful as well as type of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually also been supporting and valuable, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our personal possessions were actually inoperable, and claiming kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually great, also. They understand it is actually been a difficult time for me and also the individuals on the ground, as well as they've made an effort to become as even keeled and helpful as possible. Michael also corrected me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. And also they provide me a lot of space to assume when I required it. They are extremely compassionate and also of course outraged at whoever will perform this.I understand numerous people in Washington, many individuals who journey to DC and New York City, so many that are actually captains, that I really felt certain I would certainly get a minimum of a few pieces of bad news over the upcoming handful of days. I obtained the initial one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that struck the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I encountered Chic during plebe summer season when we were in the D&B together, and our team possessed great deals of lessons all together. I can't picture what he must of looked at, and now I listen to that he may have increased better than we may also consider by possibly preventing his aircraft from being the one to deal with the White House. What an awful reduction, yet I'm sure Chic was actually dealing with bravely to the end. And tears don't circulate the exact same precede ...It's hard to define just how it feels to become the only United States completely off the world at a time like this. The feeling that I must exist with all of you, handling this, helping somehow, is difficult. I know that we perform the threshold (or past) of a horrendous shift in the past history of the world. Numerous traits will never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the thousands and thousands of folks straight impacted by these ghastly acts of violence, yet possibly for we all. Our company are going to find ourselves feeling in a different way regarding loads of traits, including possibly area exploration, however.It is actually horrible to see smoke cigarettes putting coming from cuts in your own nation from such an awesome vantage point. The dichotomy of performing a space probe dedicated to strengthening life on the planet and watching lifestyle being actually destroyed through such willful, awful process is jolting to the subconscious, no matter who you are actually. And the know-how that every little thing will definitely be actually various than when our team released due to the opportunity our experts land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our nation as well as in our leadership that we will do everything feasible to far better shield her and also our loved ones, as well as to carry compensation wherefore has actually been actually done. I have assurance that the excellent people at NASA will carry out whatever required to proceed our mission safely and securely and return our company safely and securely at the correct time. As well as I overlook every one of you quite. I can not exist with you in person, and also our team possess a very long way to visit accomplish our goal, however be actually specific that my center is actually along with you, and also know you reside in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final letter ... Fortunately, it is actually been actually a busy week up listed here. As well as to prove that, like our country, our company are continuing on our designated road with company customarily (as long as possible). Tonight the most up to date addition to the station, the Russian Docking Area will be actually released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (US opportunity), it will definitely dock with our company, at a port never ever made use of before on the low point edge of the Company Module. This brand-new component will offer our company yet another area to dock a Development or even Soyuz and also will certainly give a huge airlock along with pair of useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our company are going to carry out a few of just before our company come home.The concern prior to in dealing with today was insufficient news. The problem today is actually excessive. It arrived simultaneously when e-mail was actually brought back, as well as there's insufficient time to read it all! Plus it is actually too difficult to handle all of it immediately. But I cherish acquiring it, and I actually value the excellent characters of support as well as friendly relationship I am actually acquiring.Our team are flourishing aboard, getting our job done, and discussing points. Last night we had a lengthy conversation over dinner regarding the value of these activities, the possible activities to follow, and also what should be actually done. After supper, Michael challenged telling me that every email he received from friends in Russia mentioned primarily to tell me how regretful they were that this taken place, prolonging their acknowledgements, and also talking to just how I was carrying out. Vladimir showed me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar City. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually a lot too long to articulate easily.) Quite types folks.For the final pair of times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to broadcast real-time programs of radio headlines regarding the activity and also linked stories, to make sure I was actually well updated. Every specialist that has started the line to explain a technique or even a trouble has at some point expanded introductions to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that because of the wedding of recognition in the US, all the time folks had been taking florals as well as lining all the wall structures of the United States consular office in Moscow, and also this evening they were igniting candle lights in the road outside the embassy. Just how the globe has changed.Folks just about everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness as well as terror within this strike. As well as the enormous loss. Moscow has actually dealt with these type of troubles in the last few years along with house and also train bombings, so they are actually as distressed to remove this threat as our experts are. Yet all-time low product line is actually that there are actually great individuals everywhere who would like to stay in peace. I read through that a youngster asked, "America is therefore really good to other nations, we consistently assist everyone, just how can they dislike our team so much?".I wish the instance of collaboration and trust that this space probe plus all the people in the program display daily are going to at some point inspire the remainder of the world to operate similarly. They must!However, our experts will not be flying over the US while people are igniting candlesticks. Do not understand if our experts could possibly find that in any case. Our company carried out, nevertheless, find an extremely uncommon as well as wonderful attraction a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. Our company were surpassing it and also it emerged regarding 3 moments after its own launch from Baikonur as the sun reached our terminal, so it was actually still at night. It looked like a huge comet along with a directly, broad tail silhouetted versus the dark planet underneath. In spite of some negative lighting for some time as the sun hit our window at a low viewpoint, I handled some video of it as to begin with we passed the spacecraft, and then watched it start to catch up as it acquired height and also speed. I shot up until primary motor deadline and enhancer splitting up developed just like we moved toward sunup on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable attraction in a memorable full week ...Life goes on, also in space. Our company're here to keep ... Frank.