.Editor's Details: The following is the content of a letter coming from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), assessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created significantly regarding specifics of this particular mission during the month I have actually been actually listed here, mainly for 2 main reasons: the very first being actually that there has actually been actually incredibly little opportunity to do that type of writing, and second of all since I'm unsure how comfy I am sharing thoughts I share with friends and family along with the rest of the planet.Effectively, obviously the planet changed today. What I state or do is actually really minor compared to the value of what happened to our country today when it was assaulted through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I reckon. Tough to know at whom to guide our anger and concern ...I had simply finished an amount of duties today, the most taxing being actually the physical examinations of all workers participants. In an exclusive discussion adhering to that, the tour surgeon told me they were possessing a quite bad day on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He defined the circumstance to me as finest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was made speechless, at that point alarmed. My first notion was actually that this had not been a true chat, that I was still listening to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It only didn't seem to be feasible on this scale in our country. I couldn't also visualize the details, even just before the updates of further damage began coming in.Vladimir came over quite rapidly, picking up that one thing really severe was being gone over. I swayed Michael in to the module at the same time. They were also amazed and also stunned. After our company authorized off, I made an effort to reveal to Vladimir and Michael as greatest I could possibly the prospective enormity of the act of horror in midtown Manhattan as well as at the Pentagon. They accurately comprehended as well as were actually incredibly supportive.I browsed the Planet Chart on the computer system to see where over the planet our experts were actually and also discovered that our experts were actually coming southeast out of Canada and will be passing over New England in a handful of moments. I zipped around the terminal till I found a home window that would certainly offer me a scenery of New York City as well as got hold of the closest cam. It happened to be a video camera, and also I was looking southern coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to have a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reviewing among the newspaper article our company only got, I think our team were actually checking out NY around the moment of, or quickly after, the crash of the second high rise. Exactly how awful ...I swung the video camera during the East Shore to the south to see if I could observe any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually quite difficult to think of job afterwards, though our team had some to perform, yet on the upcoming track our company crossed the US additional southern. All three of us were working a couple of video cameras to make an effort to acquire sights of Nyc or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, but no particular resource can be viewed. Everything looked incredible from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not imagine the terrible settings on the ground.Besides the mental effect of our country being tackled as well as thousands of our consumers and maybe some pals being actually gotten rid of, the most overwhelming feeling being actually where I am actually is one of isolation.Upcoming day ... I presume the fatigue and psychological pressure got the very best of me. I couldn't stay awake and also remain to create. Today was still hard, but we started obtaining additional details, plus we possessed the tribute of talking directly along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that assured our company that the ground groups would remain to operate and also guarantee our safety, and also the secure procedure of the Place. Our experts likewise learnt through our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that added that the companions in the Program are all absolutely devoted to carrying on secure operations and assistance. These were never ever questions for me. I understand all these folks! The ground crews have actually been exceptionally supportive, really understanding of the effect of the news, and also have made an effort to be as beneficial as achievable. They have all been extremely qualified and concentrated though I can't picture the disturbance of this type of headlines being available in and the notion that federal government properties might be in jeopardy. They never ever missed a beat, even when relocating nerve center. And a group of elderly staffs and friends offered our team a rather in depth instruction on what was understood and also what was actually being done in the authorities as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was quite beneficial and also sort of them to perform in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually supportive as well as practical, attempting to uplink news articles when our personal possessions were inoperable, and also stating kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been actually fantastic, too. They understand it's been a difficult day for me and also the people on the ground, as well as they have actually attempted to be as also keeled and helpful as feasible. Michael also fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me loads of area to think when I needed it. They are extremely supportive and also naturally outraged at whoever will do this.I know a lot of individuals in Washington, many folks that travel to DC and also New York City, many who are flies, that I experienced sure I will obtain a minimum of a couple of items of problem over the upcoming few days. I acquired the 1st one today when I knew that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that hit the Government was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I met Chic during the course of plebe summer season when our experts resided in the D&B together, as well as our experts possessed great deals of classes with each other. I can't visualize what he has to of gone through, and right now I hear that he might possess risen better than we can easily also think about through perhaps preventing his airplane coming from being the one to tackle the White Property. What an awful loss, however I make sure Chic was battling fearlessly throughout. And also rips do not stream the very same precede ...It's hard to explain exactly how it experiences to be the only American totally off the planet at once including this. The sensation that I must exist with every one of you, coping with this, helping in some way, is actually frustrating. I recognize that our team are on the threshold (or even past) of an awful switch in the history of the globe. Many points will certainly never be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the 1000s and 1000s of individuals directly impacted by these ghastly process of violence, but possibly for everyone. Our experts are going to find ourselves feeling differently about loads of things, including most likely room exploration, sadly.It is actually horrible to view smoke cigarettes pouring coming from cuts in your very own country from such a fantastic point of view. The duality of being on a space probe committed to improving life on the earth and also watching life being actually ruined through such planned, dreadful process is jolting to the subconscious, despite who you are. As well as the expertise that whatever will be actually various than when our experts launched due to the time our experts land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our leadership that our experts are going to perform everything achievable to far better shield her as well as our family members, as well as to deliver compensation for what has been performed. I have assurance that the great people at NASA will do whatever required to continue our purpose properly and also return our team safely and securely at the right time. And also I miss each of you significantly. I can not exist along with you in person, as well as we have a very long way to head to accomplish our mission, however be actually certain that my heart is with you, and also know you remain in my prayers.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last character ... The good news is, it is actually been actually a busy week up right here. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, we are actually advancing our intended pathway along with company as usual (as much as possible). Tonight the most up to date addition to the place, the Russian Docking Area will be actually introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US time), it will certainly dock along with us, at a port never utilized prior to on the nadir side of the Solution Component. This brand new element will offer our team an additional location to dock an Improvement or even Soyuz and also will definitely offer a big airlock with two able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which we will definitely carry out a few of before our experts come home.The problem just before in taking care of this week was actually insufficient updates. The issue now is way too much. It came simultaneously when e-mail was actually restored, and also there is actually not enough time to review it all! Plus it is actually also tough to take care of all of it at once. However I enjoy acquiring it, as well as I really enjoy the excellent letters of help and also friendship I am actually receiving.Our experts are actually doing well aboard, getting our work performed, and discussing traits. Final evening our company had a long conversation over supper about the significance of these events, the possible activities to follow, and what must be done. After supper, Michael made a point of informing me that every e-mail he got coming from close friends in Russia stated particularly to tell me just how sorry they were that this occurred, expanding their acknowledgements, and also talking to exactly how I was performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English phrases are actually a lot extremely lengthy to verbalize effortlessly.) Incredibly kind folks.For the final 2 times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transfer real-time programs of broadcast news about the activity and also affiliated accounts, to see to it I was actually well notified. Every professional who has come on free throw line to review a method or a concern has at some aspect expanded introductions to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that because of the wedding of remembrance in the United States, all the time individuals had actually been carrying florals and lining all the wall surfaces of the United States consulate in Moscow, and this evening they were lighting candles in the street outside the consular office. Exactly how the planet has actually transformed.Folks almost everywhere seem to recognize the senselessness and also terror in this particular strike. And the significant loss. Moscow has coped with these kind of troubles in the final few years along with apartment as well as subway bombings, so they are actually as anxious to get rid of this hazard as we are. But the bottom product line is that there are actually really good individuals almost everywhere that desire to live in peace. I check out that a kid asked, "United States is actually thus really good to various other countries, our team regularly assist everybody, how can they hate us a lot?".I wish the instance of teamwork as well as count on that this spacecraft and all people in the system demonstrate daily are going to one day motivate the remainder of the world to work similarly. They must!However, our experts will not be actually flying over the United States while people are actually igniting candles. Do not recognize if we can see that in any case. Our company carried out, nevertheless, observe an incredibly unique as well as wonderful attraction a couple of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. Our experts were eclipsing it as well as it came into view about three moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunshine reached our terminal, so it was still unaware. It appeared like a huge comet along with a right, wide rear silhouetted against the dark earth under. Even with some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sun hit our home window at a reduced position, I dealt with some video recording of it as to begin with our company passed the spacecraft, and then enjoyed it start to catch up as it obtained altitude and rate. I filmed up until main motor cutoff as well as enhancer separation developed just like our company came close to sunrise on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable sight in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle happens, even in space. Our company're below to keep ... Frank.