.Editor's Details: The complying with is actually the content of a letter from Expedition Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), assessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written quite concerning specifics of the goal throughout the month I have actually been actually listed here, generally for two causes: the 1st being that there has actually been actually extremely little bit of time to accomplish that sort of composing, and the second thing is given that I'm uncertain how comfy I am sharing ideas I show to family and friends along with the remainder of the planet.Well, obviously the globe changed today. What I claim or carry out is extremely minor reviewed to the significance of what took place to our country today when it was assaulted by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I presume. Challenging to recognize at whom to guide our anger and fear ...I had just finished a number of activities this morning, the most time-consuming being actually the physical exams of all crew participants. In an exclusive discussion complying with that, the tour cosmetic surgeon informed me they were possessing a really poor day on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He defined the condition to me as finest he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was stunned, then horrified. My initial thought and feelings was actually that this had not been a genuine conversation, that I was still listening closely to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It only failed to seem to be achievable on this scale in our nation. I could not even picture the details, even prior to the information of additional destruction started can be found in.Vladimir came by rather quickly, sensing that something quite serious was being talked about. I swayed Michael right into the module too. They were likewise astounded and stunned. After our company authorized off, I attempted to describe to Vladimir and Michael as best I can the possible size of the show of terror in downtown Manhattan and at the Pentagon. They accurately understood as well as were very compassionate.I glanced at the Globe Chart on the computer system to view where over the globe our company were actually as well as observed that our team were coming southeast away from Canada and would certainly be overlooking New England in a couple of minutes. I zipped around the station till I found a home window that would give me a viewpoint of New York City and snatched the closest electronic camera. It occurred to be a camera, as well as I was actually looking southern coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess an odd bloom to it at the foundation of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the area. After reviewing among the news articles our experts simply received, I believe we were checking out NY around the moment of, or not long after, the failure of the second tower. How terrible ...I swung the camera during the East Coast to the south to see if I might find some other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however absolutely nothing was visible.It was actually fairly hard to deal with job afterwards, though our team had some to do, but on the upcoming track we moved across the United States more southern. All three people were actually working 1 or 2 cams to attempt to receive sights of Nyc or Washington. There was fog over Washington, but no specific source might be observed. All of it appeared unbelievable coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not picture the heartbreaking settings on the ground.Besides the mental effect of our country being actually dealt with and 1000s of our residents as well as perhaps some friends being eliminated, one of the most mind-boggling sensation being actually where I am is just one of seclusion.Next time ... I suspect the tiredness and also mental strain acquired the best of me. I couldn't stay awake as well as continue to compose. Today was still hard, but our team began acquiring more info, plus our team possessed the respect of talking straight with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured our company that the ground crews will remain to function and ensure our security, and also the secure operation of the Station. Our company also learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the partners in the Program are all entirely devoted to proceeding secure functions and also assistance. These were actually never ever concerns for me. I know all these folks! The ground groups have actually been extremely supportive, very understanding of the effect of the headlines, and have tried to become as handy as feasible. They have actually all been really professional as well as concentrated though I can not picture the diversion of the type of updates being available in and the notion that government buildings could be vulnerable. They never avoided a beat, even when relocating control centers. As well as a team of senior personnel and also friends provided us a fairly comprehensive rundown about what was known and also what was being actually carried out in the federal government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually extremely helpful as well as sort of them to do in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually also been actually supporting as well as practical, making an effort to uplink news articles when our own possessions were unusable, and also pointing out kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been actually wonderful, as well. They know it is actually been a hard time for me and the people on the ground, and they have actually attempted to become as also keeled and useful as feasible. Michael even corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me plenty of space to believe when I needed it. They are actually very compassionate and of course outraged at whoever will perform this.I know a lot of folks in Washington, a lot of individuals that travel to DC and also NYC, plenty of who are flies, that I experienced certain I would obtain at least a few items of bad news over the next handful of days. I acquired the first one today when I knew that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that attacked the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of cadet summer when our experts were in the D&B together, as well as our team possessed lots of classes all together. I can't envision what he has to of experienced, as well as currently I listen to that he might possess increased even more than our experts can easily also consider through potentially avoiding his plane from being the one to deal with the White Property. What a terrible reduction, yet I ensure Chic was actually battling bravely to the end. And rips don't stream the same precede ...It's complicated to explain just how it really feels to become the only United States completely off the planet at once such as this. The feeling that I ought to exist along with each one of you, taking care of this, helping somehow, is frustrating. I recognize that our team get on the limit (or past) of a terrible switch in the past history of the planet. Numerous points will definitely certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the manies thousand and 1000s of people straight impacted by these horrendous acts of terrorism, however perhaps for all of us. Our experts will certainly find ourselves feeling in a different way regarding dozens of points, including probably space expedition, regrettably.It is actually terrible to find smoke putting from wounds in your very own country coming from such a wonderful perspective. The duality of getting on a space capsule dedicated to strengthening life on the earth as well as viewing lifestyle being ruined through such purposeful, awful acts is jolting to the mind, regardless of that you are actually. As well as the knowledge that every little thing will certainly be different than when our team introduced due to the time our team land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and in our management that we will definitely perform everything possible to far better shield her and our households, and also to deliver compensation for what has been actually performed. I possess confidence that the good folks at NASA will definitely do whatever essential to proceed our mission safely as well as return our company safely at the correct time. And I skip each of you significantly. I can't exist with you in person, and our team possess a very long way to go to finish our goal, however be actually certain that my center is actually with you, and know you are in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... Thankfully, it's been a busy full week up here. And also to confirm that, like our nation, we are actually continuing on our designated pathway with company as usual (as high as achievable). Tonight the current addition to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber are going to be introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States time), it is going to dock along with our team, at a port never made use of prior to on the nadir side of the Solution Module. This brand-new element will definitely give us another spot to dock a Development or Soyuz and also will certainly offer a large airlock along with pair of able to be used hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which we will certainly do a few of just before our experts get back.The issue just before in dealing with today was too little news. The issue today is actually way too much. It arrived all at once when e-mail was brought back, and also there is actually not enough opportunity to read all of it! Plus it's as well hard to manage all of it instantly. However I enjoy receiving it, and also I really enjoy the excellent characters of support and also friendship I am actually acquiring.Our team are actually doing well on board, receiving our job done, and also discussing factors. Last evening our team had a long discussion over supper regarding the implication of these occasions, the feasible actions to follow, as well as what must be performed. After dinner, Michael resolved informing me that every email he obtained from close friends in Russia said specifically to tell me exactly how sorry they were that this happened, expanding their acknowledgements, and also talking to just how I was doing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian word for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English terms are a lot too long to verbalize simply.) Quite type people.For the last 2 days, the Russian MCC has sufficed to transfer online shows of broadcast news regarding the occasion and linked tales, to make certain I was effectively informed. Every professional who has actually started free throw line to discuss an operation or even a problem contends some aspect stretched hellos to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that as a result of the wedding day of recognition in the United States, all the time individuals had been actually carrying blossoms and also lining all the wall surfaces of the United States consular office in Moscow, and this evening they were igniting candlesticks in the street outside the consular office. Just how the globe has changed.People almost everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness and horror in this particular assault. And the tremendous loss. Moscow has dealt with these kind of issues in the final handful of years along with apartment or condo and subway battles, so they are as distressed to get rid of this threat as our experts are. But the bottom series is actually that there are actually good people everywhere that would like to stay in tranquility. I check out that a little one asked, "America is thus good to other countries, we constantly aid every person, how can they detest us so much?".I hope the example of teamwork as well as depend on that this space probe plus all people in the course demonstrate daily are going to sooner or later encourage the rest of the planet to work similarly. They must!Regrettably, we won't be actually flighting over the US while people are actually igniting candle lights. Do not understand if our experts could observe that anyhow. Our team did, however, find a really uncommon and wonderful attraction a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our company were overtaking it and also it came into view about 3 minutes after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight hit our station, so it was still unaware. It seemed like a huge comet with a directly, vast tail silhouetted versus the darker earth underneath. Even with some bad lights for some time as the sunshine struck our window at a reduced viewpoint, I took care of some video of it as first our team passed the spacecraft, and afterwards enjoyed it begin to catch up as it gained elevation as well as velocity. I shot until major motor cutoff as well as booster splitting up developed equally as we moved toward dawn on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable sight in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle goes on, also in space. Our team're listed below to keep ... Frank.