.Editor's Details: The complying with is actually the content of a character from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), assessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created quite regarding specifics of this particular mission during the course of the month I have actually been here, generally for two reasons: the initial being that there has been very little bit of opportunity to do that type of creating, and also second of all given that I am actually not exactly sure how comfortable I am actually sharing notions I provide friends and family along with the rest of the globe.Properly, undoubtedly the globe modified today. What I point out or carry out is actually really minor contrasted to the implication of what took place to our nation today when it was assaulted through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I think. Hard to recognize at whom to route our anger and also fear ...I had only completed a lot of duties this morning, the best taxing being actually the physical examinations of all crew members. In an exclusive conversation following that, the trip surgeon informed me they were actually possessing an extremely poor time on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He illustrated the scenario to me as ideal he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was amazed, after that horrified. My very first thought and feelings was that this wasn't an actual discussion, that I was still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely failed to seem feasible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't also envision the details, also prior to the information of additional destruction started can be found in.Vladimir came pretty rapidly, sensing that something extremely significant was actually being gone over. I swung Michael into the element also. They were actually additionally blown away and also stunned. After our team signed off, I tried to explain to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I can the potential measurement of this show of horror in midtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They plainly comprehended and also were actually very sympathetic.I browsed the World Chart on the computer to observe where over the world our team were as well as observed that our team were happening southeast out of Canada and would be overlooking New England in a few moments. I whized around the terminal until I found a home window that would give me a perspective of New York City and nabbed the local video camera. It took place to be a camera, and I was actually appearing south from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to possess an odd bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reading some of the news articles our company merely received, I believe our company were actually considering NY around the time of, or quickly after, the collapse of the 2nd tower. Just how terrible ...I scanned the camera the whole time the East Shore to the south to see if I might see some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet nothing at all showed up.It was actually fairly tough to think of work afterwards, though our company possessed some to accomplish, however on the following orbit our team moved across the United States further southern. All 3 people were working a couple of cameras to try to get perspectives of New york city or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, however no details resource may be seen. It all appeared amazing from 2 to 3 hundred miles away. I can't imagine the awful settings on the ground.Other than the psychological influence of our country being actually dealt with as well as lots of our citizens and possibly some pals being killed, one of the most overwhelming feeling being where I am actually is just one of isolation.Following day ... I guess the fatigue and psychological stress received the most effective of me. I could not stay awake as well as continue to create. Today was actually still challenging, but our experts began acquiring additional info, plus our experts had the respect of speaking straight along with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that ensured our team that the ground teams would certainly continue to function and also ensure our safety and security, and also the secure operation of the Station. We additionally learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who included that the companions in the Program are all absolutely committed to carrying on safe procedures as well as assistance. These were never ever concerns for me. I know all these individuals! The ground teams have actually been actually incredibly supportive, quite understanding of the impact of the news, and also have actually made an effort to become as valuable as achievable. They have all been quite qualified and focused though I can not think of the diversion of the kind of headlines being available in and also the thought and feelings that government buildings could be vulnerable. They never bypassed a beat, also when transferring nerve center. And also a team of senior employees and also close friends gave our company a rather complete instruction about what was understood and also what was actually being actually done in the federal government and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was quite helpful and type of them to accomplish in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually also been encouraging as well as valuable, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our very own possessions were inoperable, and also pointing out kind terms ...My crewmates have been fantastic, also. They recognize it's been a tough time for me and the people on the ground, as well as they have actually tried to be as even keeled as well as handy as possible. Michael also repaired me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me a lot of room to assume when I required it. They are quite sympathetic as well as of course shocked at whoever will perform this.I understand numerous folks in Washington, plenty of folks who travel to DC and also New York City, plenty of who are actually aviators, that I really felt sure I would acquire at the very least a handful of parts of problem over the next few times. I acquired the 1st one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that reached the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I came across Chic in the course of cadet summertime when our experts remained in the D&B all together, and also our team had great deals of lessons with each other. I can not envision what he must of undergone, as well as right now I listen to that he might possess risen even more than our experts can also think about through potentially avoiding his airplane coming from being the one to tackle the White Home. What a terrible reduction, but I'm sure Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. As well as rips do not circulate the exact same precede ...It's difficult to describe how it really feels to become the only American totally off the world at a time like this. The feeling that I need to exist along with each one of you, taking care of this, helping somehow, is actually mind-boggling. I understand that we get on the limit (or even past) of a terrible change in the past history of the planet. Lots of factors are going to certainly never be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not only for the manies thousand and also hundreds of folks directly impacted by these horrible process of violence, yet perhaps for everyone. Our experts will certainly discover our own selves really feeling in a different way about lots of traits, featuring possibly area exploration, however.It's dreadful to find smoke pouring from wounds in your personal nation from such a wonderful perspective. The duality of getting on a space probe committed to improving live on the earth and seeing lifestyle being damaged by such deliberate, dreadful process is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of who you are. And the understanding that every little thing will definitely be different than when our experts released due to the opportunity our company land is actually a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and in our management that our team will definitely carry out whatever achievable to better defend her and also our households, as well as to bring justice wherefore has actually been carried out. I have confidence that the really good folks at NASA are going to perform every thing needed to continue our purpose safely and also return our team securely at the correct time. And also I miss out on each one of you significantly. I can not be there with you in person, and our team possess a very long way to visit complete our objective, however be actually specific that my soul is actually with you, as well as recognize you reside in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last character ... Luckily, it is actually been actually an occupied full week up here. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, our team are actually advancing our desired course with organization as usual (as much as possible). Tonight the current add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment will certainly be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States opportunity), it will definitely dock with us, at a port never utilized prior to on the low point edge of the Solution Component. This brand new element will offer us yet another location to dock a Progression or even Soyuz and also will definitely provide a huge airlock with two useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our company will carry out a few of before we get back.The problem before in coping with recently was inadequate information. The issue today is excessive. It came all at once when email was actually repaired, as well as there is actually inadequate opportunity to review everything! Plus it's also challenging to deal with all of it at once. But I cherish receiving it, as well as I really value the fantastic letters of assistance as well as relationship I am acquiring.Our team are actually prospering on board, obtaining our job carried out, and also talking about factors. Last evening our team had a long discussion over supper concerning the importance of these activities, the feasible activities to comply with, and also what ought to be actually performed. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every email he obtained from pals in Russia said especially to tell me exactly how sorry they were actually that this happened, extending their acknowledgements, and also asking how I was actually doing. Vladimir showed me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Urban area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are considerably extremely long to verbalize simply.) Incredibly types people.For the last 2 times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to send real-time programs of radio news about the activity as well as connected accounts, to be sure I was properly notified. Every specialist who has actually begun free throw line to go over a procedure or a concern has at some aspect stretched hellos to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that as a result of the special day of recognition in the US, all the time folks had actually been taking florals as well as lining all the walls of the US embassy in Moscow, and also this evening they were igniting candle lights in the road outside the consular office. Just how the world has transformed.Individuals all over seem to be to realize the senselessness as well as terror within this attack. And also the enormous reduction. Moscow has actually taken care of these sort of complications in the last handful of years along with house as well as train bombings, so they are as troubled to eliminate this risk as our team are actually. Yet the bottom series is that there are actually great people all over that would like to stay in tranquility. I review that a little one talked to, "America is so excellent to other countries, we constantly help every person, exactly how can they hate us a great deal?".I wish the example of participation and trust fund that this spacecraft plus all people in the program illustrate daily are going to at some point inspire the remainder of the planet to function similarly. They must!Regrettably, we will not be actually taking flight over the United States during the time individuals are lighting candles. Don't know if we could view that anyway. Our company did, having said that, find a quite uncommon and also gorgeous view a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. Our company were surpassing it and also it appeared regarding three moments after its launch from Baikonur as the sun struck our station, so it was still in the dark. It seemed like a sizable comet along with a directly, vast rear silhouetted versus the darker world below. Regardless of some bad lights for a while as the sunlight struck our home window at a reduced perspective, I managed some video recording of it as to begin with our company passed the rocket, and then saw it begin to catch up as it acquired elevation and rate. I recorded up until principal engine cutoff as well as booster separation developed equally our experts came close to daybreak on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in a memorable full week ...Life takes place, even precede. Our team are actually listed here to stay ... Frank.