.Editor's Note: The observing is the message of a character from Trip Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), assessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created quite regarding specifics of this mission throughout the month I have actually been actually right here, generally for pair of reasons: the first being that there has been actually very little time to do that sort of writing, as well as furthermore, since I am actually uncertain just how pleasant I am actually discussing thoughts I provide family and friends along with the remainder of the world.Properly, undoubtedly the world altered today. What I say or do is very slight contrasted to the value of what took place to our nation today when it was struck by ... by whom? Terrorists is actually all we know, I suppose. Challenging to understand at whom to point our rage as well as concern ...I had just ended up a number of duties this morning, the most lengthy being actually the physical examinations of all team participants. In a private conversation observing that, the air travel plastic surgeon informed me they were actually having an extremely bad time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He illustrated the scenario to me as absolute best he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was stunned, then alarmed. My first notion was actually that this had not been a true chat, that I was still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just really did not seem feasible on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even envision the details, also before the news of further damage started being available in.Vladimir came by fairly promptly, sensing that one thing incredibly significant was actually being reviewed. I swung Michael in to the element at the same time. They were actually likewise impressed and stunned. After we authorized off, I tried to describe to Vladimir and Michael as absolute best I can the prospective size of this particular show of fear in downtown Manhattan and at the Government. They precisely comprehended as well as were actually very understanding.I glanced at the Globe Chart on the pc to view where over the globe our experts were and also discovered that our experts were actually coming southeast out of Canada and would certainly be skipping New England in a couple of minutes. I zoomed around the terminal up until I found a home window that will provide me a scenery of New York City and took hold of the local cam. It occurred to become a camera, as well as I was looking south coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to be to have a strange flower to it at the foundation of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the urban area. After checking out some of the newspaper article our company merely received, I believe we were actually checking out NY around the time of, or shortly after, the collapse of the second tower. Exactly how terrible ...I scanned the cam the whole time the East Coast to the south to see if I might see any other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, but nothing at all was visible.It was actually fairly challenging to consider job afterwards, though our team possessed some to carry out, yet on the following orbit our experts crossed the US more south. All 3 people were operating 1 or 2 cameras to attempt to receive sights of The big apple or Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no details resource could be viewed. It all looked unbelievable from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can't envision the terrible settings on the ground.Apart from the emotional impact of our nation being dealt with as well as thousands of our citizens and perhaps some good friends being eliminated, the best difficult emotion being where I am actually is one of seclusion.Next day ... I presume the tiredness and psychological stress got the very best of me. I couldn't keep awake as well as remain to create. Today was actually still tough, however our company began receiving even more information, plus our company possessed the honor of chatting straight with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who guaranteed our company that the ground staffs would remain to function and also guarantee our protection, and also the secure procedure of the Place. Our team additionally spoke with our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the partners in the Plan are actually all totally devoted to carrying on safe procedures and help. These were never questions for me. I know all these folks! The ground crews have been actually extremely supporting, incredibly understanding of the effect of the updates, and also have actually attempted to be as helpful as achievable. They have all been very qualified and also concentrated though I can not think of the interruption of this particular type of information can be found in as well as the idea that government structures might be at risk. They never ever avoided a beat, even when relocating nerve center. And also a group of senior employees and also friends gave our company a fairly comprehensive instruction on what was actually recognized and what was being actually done in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was incredibly handy and kind of them to carry out in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually supportive and also beneficial, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our very own assets were unusable, and saying kind words ...My crewmates have actually been great, also. They understand it's been actually a tough time for me and also the people on the ground, and they've tried to be as also keeled and also practical as possible. Michael also corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for supper. And they give me plenty of space to think when I needed it. They are actually really considerate as well as of course outraged at whoever will perform this.I recognize many folks in Washington, so many people that journey to DC and NYC, so many that are captains, that I experienced sure I will get at least a few pieces of trouble over the following handful of times. I obtained the very first one today when I knew that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I found Chic during the course of cadet summer months when we remained in the D&B together, as well as our experts had tons of lessons all together. I can't picture what he must of undergone, and also right now I listen to that he might have risen additionally than our company can easily also consider through possibly avoiding his aircraft coming from being actually the one to tackle the White Property. What an awful reduction, yet I make sure Chic was actually combating fearlessly throughout. And also splits don't circulate the same precede ...It is actually challenging to describe exactly how it feels to be the only American fully off the earth each time like this. The feeling that I must be there along with each one of you, coping with this, assisting in some way, is difficult. I understand that our company are on the limit (or even beyond) of a terrible shift in the history of the planet. Numerous things will definitely certainly never coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the 1000s and lots of folks directly impacted by these hideous acts of violence, yet most likely for everybody. Our experts are going to locate ourselves feeling in different ways regarding loads of points, including most likely space exploration, unfortunately.It is actually horrendous to see smoke putting coming from injuries in your own nation from such a wonderful perspective. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft committed to strengthening life on the planet and also enjoying life being actually ruined by such planned, terrible process is actually jolting to the mind, no matter who you are. And the expertise that whatever are going to be various than when our team released by the opportunity we land is actually a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and in our leadership that we will perform everything possible to better shield her as well as our loved ones, and to carry fair treatment for what has actually been actually done. I possess confidence that the great individuals at NASA will definitely perform everything important to proceed our mission securely and return our team carefully at the right time. And also I miss all of you very much. I can not be there along with you personally, and our team have a long way to visit finish our purpose, however be actually certain that my heart is along with you, and know you remain in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final character ... Luckily, it's been actually an occupied full week up right here. And to confirm that, like our country, our experts are actually advancing our intended pathway with organization customarily (as long as possible). Tonight the current addition to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States opportunity), it will definitely dock along with our team, at a port never ever utilized before on the low point edge of the Solution Component. This brand new module will certainly provide us another spot to dock a Development or Soyuz and also are going to deliver a large airlock along with two useable hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our company will perform a few of prior to our team get back.The trouble prior to in taking care of this week was inadequate headlines. The problem today is actually too much. It arrived all at once when email was actually repaired, as well as there's not enough opportunity to review everything! Plus it is actually too hard to cope with all of it at the same time. But I cherish getting it, and also I truly value the excellent characters of help as well as relationship I am actually receiving.We are actually prospering on board, acquiring our work carried out, and also talking about factors. Last evening our company had a lengthy dialogue over dinner about the value of these events, the possible actions to follow, as well as what must be actually carried out. After dinner, Michael challenged informing me that every email he obtained from good friends in Russia claimed exclusively to tell me how sorry they were that this taken place, prolonging their acknowledgements, and also inquiring just how I was carrying out. Vladimir showed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English phrases are much extremely lengthy to articulate easily.) Incredibly kind people.For the last two times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit online programs of radio news about the event and linked tales, to make sure I was actually effectively updated. Every specialist who has begun free throw line to review a treatment or a trouble has at some factor prolonged greetings to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that because of the wedding day of recognition in the US, all the time people had actually been carrying flowers and also lining all the wall structures of the US consular office in Moscow, as well as this night they were actually igniting candles in the street outside the consulate. Just how the world has actually modified.People all over appear to identify the senselessness as well as scary in this particular attack. As well as the significant loss. Moscow has handled these sort of problems in the last few years with apartment and also train battles, so they are actually as restless to eliminate this threat as we are. However all-time low product line is that there are great individuals everywhere who wish to live in peace. I read that a kid inquired, "The United States is actually so great to various other nations, we consistently assist everybody, exactly how can they hate us so much?".I hope the example of cooperation and trust that this space capsule and all people in the plan display daily are going to sooner or later motivate the rest of the globe to function similarly. They must!Regrettably, our experts will not be flighting over the United States while people are lighting candlesticks. Do not understand if our experts could see that in any case. Our company carried out, having said that, observe a quite unique and also stunning view a couple of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were actually surpassing it as well as it emerged about three mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sun reached our station, so it was actually still in the dark. It resembled a large comet along with a straight, large rear silhouetted against the dark planet under. Regardless of some negative lighting fixtures for some time as the sun hit our home window at a low position, I took care of some online video of it as to begin with our experts passed the spacecraft, and after that enjoyed it begin to catch up as it acquired elevation as well as speed. I shot until major engine cutoff and enhancer splitting up took place equally as we came close to sunup on the Himalayas. A remarkable attraction in an extraordinary full week ...Lifestyle takes place, also in space. We're right here to remain ... Frank.