.Publisher's Details: The adhering to is the text message of a letter coming from Expedition 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reflecting on the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created very much concerning specifics of this purpose throughout the month I have actually been below, primarily for 2 reasons: the first being actually that there has been actually extremely little bit of opportunity to accomplish that sort of creating, and furthermore, since I am actually uncertain exactly how relaxed I am actually discussing thoughts I provide friends and family along with the rest of the globe.Effectively, definitely the planet transformed today. What I say or even perform is quite minor matched up to the significance of what took place to our nation today when it was actually attacked through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I suspect. Hard to recognize at whom to drive our anger as well as worry ...I had only ended up an amount of activities this morning, the absolute most lengthy being actually the physical examinations of all staff participants. In a private discussion complying with that, the flight surgeon told me they were actually possessing a quite negative time on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He described the circumstance to me as greatest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually astonished, after that horrified. My first notion 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 to be possible on this scale in our country. I could not even think of the particulars, even prior to the updates of more devastation started coming in.Vladimir came rather swiftly, picking up that something quite major was actually being reviewed. I swayed Michael in to the element at the same time. They were likewise astonished as well as stunned. After our team authorized off, I attempted to reveal to Vladimir and Michael as ideal I could the prospective magnitude of this particular act of horror in downtown New york and at the Government. They precisely understood and also were actually really sympathetic.I glanced at the World Chart on the computer to observe where over the world we were as well as discovered that we were coming southeast away from Canada and would be skipping New England in a couple of mins. I zipped around the station until I found a window that would certainly provide me a view of New York City and ordered the nearby electronic camera. It happened to be a video camera, and also I was actually appearing southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the column that was actually streaming south of the area. After going through some of the news articles our experts merely got, I feel our company were considering NY around the time of, or quickly after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. Just how horrendous ...I panned the camera all along the East Coast to the south to find if I might view any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing showed up.It was pretty hard to consider job after that, though our team had some to do, yet on the following track we went across the US more southern. All 3 of us were operating 1 or 2 video cameras to attempt to obtain perspectives of The big apple or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no details resource can be observed. All of it appeared extraordinary coming from two to three hundred miles away. I can't think of the tragic scenes on the ground.Besides the psychological influence of our nation being attacked and also thousands of our people and also possibly some pals being gotten rid of, the most overwhelming feeling being where I am is one of seclusion.Following day ... I think the tiredness and also psychological tension received the most ideal of me. I couldn't stay awake and remain to create. Today was actually still complicated, but our team began getting even more details, plus our experts possessed the honor of speaking directly with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured our team that the ground staffs will continue to work and also ensure our safety and security, along with the secure function of the Place. Our experts also talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Course are all absolutely devoted to proceeding safe procedures and support. These were actually never ever inquiries for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground crews have been actually astonishingly supportive, really understanding of the influence of the news, and have attempted to become as valuable as achievable. They have actually all been very qualified as well as concentrated though I can't picture the diversion of this particular form of headlines being available in as well as the notion that federal government buildings may be vulnerable. They never avoided a beat, also when transferring nerve center. And also a group of elderly personnel and also friends gave our team a rather complete briefing about what was known and what was being done in the government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was quite beneficial and also type of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has likewise been supportive and also handy, trying to uplink newspaper article when our own possessions were inoperable, and also claiming kind words ...My crewmates have been actually excellent, too. They understand it is actually been actually a tough day for me and the folks on the ground, and they have actually made an effort to be as also keeled and handy as feasible. Michael even fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. And also they give me lots of area to presume when I required it. They are very compassionate and also obviously shocked at whoever would certainly perform this.I know numerous folks in Washington, plenty of people that journey to DC as well as NYC, a lot of that are actually pilots, that I experienced sure I would receive at the very least a handful of pieces of problem over the following handful of times. I acquired the very first one today when I found out that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that hit the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I came across Chic in the course of cadet summertime when we resided in the D&B together, and our team possessed considerable amounts of training class all together. I can't picture what he needs to of undergone, as well as currently I listen to that he might have increased better than our experts may even consider through possibly stopping his aircraft coming from being actually the one to attack the White Property. What an awful reduction, yet I make certain Chic was dealing with fearlessly to the end. As well as splits don't flow the very same precede ...It's challenging to explain how it really feels to be the only United States entirely off the world at once such as this. The feeling that I should exist along with each one of you, dealing with this, aiding somehow, is overwhelming. I understand that our experts get on the threshold (or even beyond) of a dreadful switch in the past history of the world. Many points will definitely never ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not just for the manies thousand and also countless folks straight affected through these hideous actions of violence, however probably for everyone. We will definitely discover our own selves really feeling in a different way regarding lots of factors, featuring possibly area exploration, regrettably.It's horrible to view smoke pouring coming from injuries in your very own country coming from such a wonderful point of view. The dichotomy of performing a space probe dedicated to strengthening daily life on the earth and also seeing lifestyle being ruined through such planned, awful acts is actually jolting to the mind, regardless of who you are. And the understanding that everything will be different than when our team introduced by the time our team land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and in our leadership that our experts will certainly carry out whatever achievable to much better shield her as well as our households, and to take justice of what has been actually carried out. I have peace of mind that the great individuals at NASA are going to perform whatever needed to continue our objective safely and securely and return us properly at the right time. As well as I overlook every one of you quite. I can not exist along with you in person, as well as our company have a long way to head to complete our mission, but be certain that my soul is actually with you, and also know you are in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last letter ... Luckily, it's been actually a busy full week up here. And to prove that, like our nation, our experts are actually advancing our intended course with business customarily (as long as possible). Tonight the current add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will certainly be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (US time), it will definitely dock with our company, at a slot never ever used before on the low point edge of the Company Element. This brand-new module will definitely give our company another area to dock a Progression or even Soyuz and also will definitely provide a large airlock along with two useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which our team will definitely carry out a few of just before our team return.The concern just before in taking care of recently was actually insufficient headlines. The problem right now is actually too much. It came at one time when email was actually restored, and there is actually insufficient opportunity to review all of it! Plus it is actually also hard to manage all of it immediately. But I appreciate receiving it, and also I truly cherish the terrific characters of assistance as well as companionship I am actually receiving.We are doing well on board, obtaining our job carried out, and talking about traits. Final evening we had a long dialogue over dinner regarding the implication of these celebrations, the possible actions to adhere to, and what must be performed. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every email he got coming from friends in Russia claimed primarily to tell me how sorry they were that this taken place, prolonging their acknowledgements, and also talking to exactly how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir educated me the Russian term for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are a lot extremely lengthy to verbalize effortlessly.) Quite kind people.For the last 2 times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit online shows of radio updates concerning the celebration as well as connected tales, to ensure I was effectively informed. Every specialist that has come on the line to review a treatment or a trouble has at some aspect expanded introductions to me with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that as a result of the special day of recognition in the United States, all the time individuals had actually been carrying florals as well as lining all the wall surfaces of the United States consular office in Moscow, and this evening they were actually lighting candlesticks in the street outside the embassy. Just how the globe has modified.People just about everywhere seem to be to recognize the senselessness and terror in this particular assault. As well as the significant loss. Moscow has taken care of these sort of issues in the last handful of years along with home and train bombings, so they are as nervous to remove this risk as our experts are actually. But the bottom line is that there are actually good folks anywhere who want to stay in tranquility. I go through that a little one inquired, "The United States is therefore really good to other countries, our company always assist everybody, just how can they hate our company a lot?".I really hope the instance of teamwork and also rely on that this spacecraft plus all the people in the plan show daily will at some point influence the remainder of the world to function similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our experts will not be piloting over the US during the time people are lighting candlesticks. Don't know if our experts could possibly find that in any case. Our experts did, however, see a quite uncommon and wonderful sight a handful of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were actually eclipsing it as well as it appeared about three moments after its launch from Baikonur as the sun struck our station, so it was actually still at night. It resembled a big comet with a straight, large rear silhouetted versus the black planet below. Despite some negative lighting fixtures for a while as the sun hit our home window at a reduced angle, I managed some online video of it as first our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that viewed it start to mesmerize as it got height as well as speed. I shot up until principal engine cutoff and booster splitting up happened equally our team moved toward dawn on the Himalayas. A remarkable sight in a remarkable full week ...Life takes place, also in space. Our team're listed here to stay ... Frank.