.Editor's Keep in mind: The observing is the content of a character from Expedition 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reflecting on the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not written significantly regarding specifics of this particular goal during the course of the month I have actually been below, generally for pair of reasons: the first being actually that there has actually been incredibly little bit of time to accomplish that sort of creating, and also also because I am actually not sure exactly how relaxed I am actually discussing ideas I show friends and family with the remainder of the planet.Properly, clearly the world changed today. What I say or do is actually extremely slight matched up to the value of what occurred to our nation today when it was assaulted through ... through whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I guess. Tough to understand at whom to drive our rage as well as worry ...I had simply finished a lot of jobs today, the best taxing being the physical exams of all team participants. In a personal chat adhering to that, the air travel plastic surgeon told me they were actually possessing a very poor day on the ground. I possessed no suggestion ...He described the scenario to me as ideal he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was overwhelmed, after that frightened. My initial thought was actually that this wasn't a real conversation, that I was still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It simply failed to seem achievable on this incrustation in our country. I could not even imagine the particulars, also before the information of more destruction started coming in.Vladimir visited pretty promptly, noticing that one thing quite significant was actually being reviewed. I swayed Michael right into the module as well. They were actually likewise impressed and also stunned. After our experts signed off, I tried to clarify to Vladimir and also Michael as greatest I can the prospective enormity of this particular act of fear in midtown New york and also at the Government. They clearly comprehended and were incredibly sympathetic.I glanced at the Planet Map on the computer system to observe where over the globe our company were actually and also discovered that our company were actually coming southeast out of Canada and also would be actually skipping New England in a handful of minutes. I zoomed around the station until I discovered a home window that will provide me a view of New York City and also nabbed the nearby cam. It happened to become a camera, and also I was appearing southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke appeared to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the city. After checking out among the news articles our company simply got, I think our experts were actually checking out NY around the moment of, or even soon after, the crash of the 2nd high rise. Exactly how dreadful ...I scanned the cam during the East Coastline to the south to view if I might see every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing at all was visible.It was actually pretty tough to think about job afterwards, though our team had some to perform, but on the upcoming track our experts traversed the United States more south. All 3 of us were operating a couple of cams to try to acquire viewpoints of Nyc or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, yet no specific resource could be viewed. It all appeared unbelievable coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can't picture the unfortunate settings on the ground.Other than the psychological impact of our country being dealt with as well as hundreds of our citizens and also maybe some buddies being killed, the absolute most difficult emotion being where I am actually is one of seclusion.Next day ... I guess the fatigue and also psychological tension obtained the very best of me. I couldn't keep awake and continue to write. Today was actually still challenging, however our company began getting even more info, plus we had the respect of speaking directly along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground crews will continue to operate and ensure our safety and security, in addition to the secure procedure of the Station. Our company additionally learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Plan are actually all entirely devoted to proceeding secure functions and support. These were certainly never questions for me. I understand all these people! The ground groups have actually been very helpful, extremely understanding of the impact of the information, as well as have actually tried to become as valuable as achievable. They have actually all been actually incredibly professional as well as concentrated though I can not visualize the interruption of the type of news can be found in as well as the notion that government buildings may be vulnerable. They never skipped a beat, also when relocating nerve center. And also a team of senior workers and close friends gave our team a pretty complete rundown on what was actually understood as well as what was actually being actually done in the government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was extremely useful and kind of them to accomplish in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has also been supportive and practical, making an effort to uplink news articles when our very own assets were inoperable, and also mentioning kind terms ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, as well. They recognize it is actually been actually a hard time for me and also the people on the ground, and also they have actually tried to become as also keeled and beneficial as achievable. Michael also corrected me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. And they provide me a lot of space to think when I required it. They are actually incredibly sympathetic and of course outraged at whoever will do this.I recognize a lot of folks in Washington, a lot of individuals that travel to DC as well as NYC, numerous that are actually flies, that I experienced sure I would certainly obtain at the very least a few pieces of bad news over the upcoming few days. I obtained the initial one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that struck the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I found Chic throughout plebe summer season when our team were in the D&B all together, and our experts possessed tons of courses together. I can't envision what he should of gone through, as well as right now I listen to that he might have increased even further than our experts may even think about by possibly avoiding his aircraft from being the one to attack the White House. What a horrible reduction, yet I make sure Chic was battling bravely throughout. And splits do not stream the same precede ...It is actually hard to explain how it really feels to become the only American completely off the earth at a time like this. The emotion that I must be there along with every one of you, managing this, aiding somehow, is difficult. I know that we are on the limit (or even past) of a dreadful change in the past of the globe. Several things will never coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the thousands as well as thousands of folks directly influenced through these horrible process of terrorism, however most likely for we all. Our team are going to find ourselves really feeling in different ways about lots of traits, consisting of most likely area exploration, sadly.It's awful to find smoke putting coming from cuts in your own nation from such a great viewpoint. The dichotomy of getting on a space probe devoted to strengthening daily life on the earth as well as watching life being actually damaged through such intentional, horrible process is jolting to the mind, regardless of that you are actually. And also the understanding that everything will definitely be different than when our experts introduced due to the opportunity our experts land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our management that our team will do every little thing possible to better protect her and also our loved ones, as well as to take compensation wherefore has actually been done. I have assurance that the really good individuals at NASA will definitely perform whatever necessary to proceed our purpose properly and also return our company properly at the right time. As well as I miss each of you significantly. I can't exist along with you personally, and also our team have a very long way to visit finish our objective, yet be actually certain that my heart is with you, as well as understand you are in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final letter ... The good news is, it's been actually an occupied full week up listed below. As well as to verify that, like our nation, our experts are continuing on our intended road along with organization as usual (as long as possible). Tonight the most up to date add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Area will certainly be released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (US opportunity), it will definitely dock along with us, at a slot certainly never utilized just before on the low point side of the Solution Module. This brand new module is going to offer us an additional area to dock an Improvement or even Soyuz and also will give a large airlock with 2 useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our company will carry out a few of prior to our company come home.The concern prior to in managing recently was too little information. The complication today is excessive. It came all at once when email was repaired, and there's not nearly enough opportunity to read it all! Plus it is actually as well hard to manage all of it simultaneously. Yet I appreciate getting it, and I truly enjoy the fantastic characters of support as well as companionship I am getting.We are succeeding on board, obtaining our job carried out, and referring to factors. Final evening we had a lengthy conversation over dinner about the significance of these occasions, the feasible actions to follow, as well as what should be actually carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every email he got coming from buddies in Russia stated specifically to tell me how regretful they were that this taken place, stretching their acknowledgements, and asking just how I was actually performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually a lot too long to verbalize simply.) Quite types individuals.For the final pair of times, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to broadcast real-time broadcasts of broadcast information about the occasion and also associated accounts, to see to it I was properly notified. Every professional who has started free throw line to review a treatment or even a concern has at some point prolonged greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that as a result of the wedding day of remembrance in the United States, all the time people had been taking florals as well as lining all the wall structures of the US consular office in Moscow, and also this evening they were igniting candle lights in the road outside the consulate. Exactly how the globe has actually transformed.Individuals anywhere appear to realize the senselessness as well as terror in this particular strike. As well as the enormous loss. Moscow has coped with these kind of complications in the last couple of years along with apartment or condo and metro battles, so they are as distressed to remove this hazard as our experts are. Yet all-time low series is that there are really good people all over who would like to live in tranquility. I read that a youngster inquired, "America is therefore good to other countries, we always aid every person, exactly how can they despise our company a great deal?".I wish the instance of cooperation and also trust that this space probe and all people in the plan display daily are going to at some point inspire the remainder of the globe to work similarly. They must!However, our company will not be flying over the US while people are actually lighting candle lights. Do not know if our experts could see that anyway. Our team performed, having said that, see a quite uncommon and also wonderful attraction a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. We were actually overtaking it and also it came into view regarding 3 mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sun attacked our station, so it was still unaware. It seemed like a big comet along with a directly, broad rear silhouetted against the darker planet below. Even with some bad lights for some time as the sun struck our window at a low position, I dealt with some video recording of it as first we passed the rocket, and after that watched it start to mesmerize as it got altitude and speed. I recorded till principal engine cutoff and enhancer separation developed equally our company approached sunrise on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable sight in an unforgettable full week ...Lifestyle goes on, also in space. Our company're listed below to remain ... Frank.