.Publisher's Details: The following is actually the content of a letter from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reassessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed significantly regarding specifics of this particular mission in the course of the month I have actually been actually here, mostly for 2 factors: the first being actually that there has actually been extremely little time to carry out that sort of creating, as well as second of all due to the fact that I am actually uncertain just how pleasant I am discussing thought and feelings I show friends and family along with the remainder of the world.Effectively, certainly the world transformed today. What I claim or even perform is incredibly slight matched up to the significance of what happened to our country today when it was actually attacked by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suspect. Hard to recognize at whom to point our rage as well as anxiety ...I had actually merely finished a variety of activities today, one of the most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all crew participants. In an exclusive talk complying with that, the air travel cosmetic surgeon told me they were actually having a quite bad time on the ground. I had no concept ...He defined the condition to me as ideal he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually made speechless, at that point horrified. My very first thought was actually that this wasn't a real discussion, that I was still paying attention to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It merely failed to seem achievable on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even imagine the details, also just before the news of additional damage started can be found in.Vladimir came by rather quickly, picking up that something very major was being discussed. I swayed Michael in to the component at the same time. They were actually likewise amazed and also stunned. After our team authorized off, I attempted to reveal to Vladimir and also Michael as finest I might the potential immensity of the act of horror in downtown New york and at the Pentagon. They precisely comprehended as well as were actually extremely supportive.I eyed the Globe Map on the personal computer to see where over the world we were actually and noticed that our company were happening southeast away from Canada and would be overlooking New England in a few mins. I zipped around the station till I found a home window that will provide me a view of New York City and also snatched the local video camera. It took place to be a camera, as well as I was actually appearing southern coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the area. After reviewing among the news articles our company simply obtained, I believe we were examining NY around the amount of time of, or even soon after, the failure of the 2nd high rise. Exactly how terrible ...I swept the video camera the whole time the East Coast to the south to observe if I could possibly observe every other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was actually fairly hard to think about work after that, though our company possessed some to carry out, but on the following orbit our experts traversed the US further southern. All 3 people were functioning one or two electronic cameras to try to get scenery of The big apple or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, but no certain source can be observed. All of it looked incredible from a couple of hundred miles away. I can't picture the unfortunate settings on the ground.Aside from the mental influence of our nation being tackled as well as thousands of our residents and perhaps some good friends being gotten rid of, one of the most frustrating sensation being where I am is just one of seclusion.Upcoming time ... I reckon the fatigue as well as psychological stress obtained the greatest of me. I couldn't remain awake and also continue to write. Today was actually still hard, yet we began obtaining even more info, plus we possessed the tribute of chatting straight with the Center Director, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our company that the ground crews will remain to function as well as ensure our safety, and also the risk-free operation of the Station. Our experts additionally talked to our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who included that the partners in the System are all totally devoted to continuing risk-free functions and help. These were certainly never inquiries for me. I know all these folks! The ground crews have actually been incredibly encouraging, quite understanding of the impact of the updates, as well as have attempted to become as handy as achievable. They have actually all been very specialist as well as centered though I can not visualize the interruption of this particular kind of news being available in and also the thought that government properties may be vulnerable. They certainly never missed a beat, also when moving control centers. As well as a group of senior workers as well as close friends gave us a quite complete briefing on what was recognized and what was being actually performed in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was incredibly beneficial as well as sort of all of them to do in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually encouraging and also handy, trying to uplink news articles when our own possessions were inoperable, as well as mentioning kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been actually excellent, also. They understand it is actually been actually a hard day for me as well as the individuals on the ground, and they have actually made an effort to be as also keeled and also useful as feasible. Michael even fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they offer me a lot of room to presume when I needed it. They are actually very considerate and also of course outraged at whoever will perform this.I recognize numerous individuals in Washington, plenty of folks who journey to DC and also NYC, so many who are actually flies, that I really felt certain I will get at the very least a couple of items of trouble over the upcoming handful of days. I acquired the first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that reached the Government was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of plebe summer season when our company remained in the D&B all together, and our experts had lots of lessons all together. I can not visualize what he must of experienced, as well as now I listen to that he might possess climbed additionally than our company can even think about by perhaps preventing his plane coming from being the one to deal with the White Home. What a terrible reduction, but I make sure Chic was fighting fearlessly to the end. As well as splits don't flow the same precede ...It's challenging to explain exactly how it experiences to be the only United States entirely off the world each time including this. The feeling that I must exist along with each one of you, managing this, helping somehow, is mind-boggling. I understand that we get on the threshold (or even past) of an awful switch in the background of the globe. A lot of things will certainly never coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the manies thousand as well as countless people directly impacted through these hideous process of violence, however most likely for we all. We will definitely locate our own selves experiencing in a different way about dozens of factors, including most likely room expedition, sadly.It is actually unpleasant to view smoke putting from cuts in your very own nation from such an excellent perspective. The duality of performing a space probe devoted to enhancing life on the planet as well as seeing life being destroyed by such unforced, dreadful process is jolting to the psyche, regardless of who you are. As well as the know-how that everything will be different than when our experts introduced by the opportunity we land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation and also in our management that our team will carry out every thing feasible to better safeguard her and also our households, as well as to deliver compensation for what has been performed. I possess confidence that the really good individuals at NASA are going to perform whatever essential to proceed our purpose securely and also return our team safely at the right time. As well as I overlook all of you very much. I can't be there with you face to face, and our team possess a very long way to visit accomplish our goal, but be specific that my center is actually along with you, as well as recognize you reside in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final letter ... Luckily, it's been a busy week up listed here. And also to verify that, like our nation, our company are advancing our intended course along with service customarily (as long as achievable). Tonight the most up to date enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be actually launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (US opportunity), it is going to dock along with us, at a port certainly never made use of prior to on the nadir edge of the Solution Module. This new component will give our company yet another area to dock a Progression or even Soyuz as well as are going to deliver a big airlock with pair of able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our experts are going to perform a few of just before our company return.The issue prior to in managing recently was actually inadequate updates. The complication now is way too much. It came all at once when email was recovered, and also there's insufficient opportunity to review all of it! Plus it is actually also tough to take care of all of it at once. But I enjoy obtaining it, as well as I definitely appreciate the great characters of help and companionship I am actually obtaining.Our team are actually flourishing aboard, acquiring our work performed, and discussing traits. Final night our team possessed a lengthy discussion over supper regarding the value of these events, the feasible actions to comply with, as well as what must be carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every email he acquired from pals in Russia said exclusively to tell me exactly how sorry they were that this taken place, expanding their acknowledgements, and also asking how I was doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English terms are considerably very lengthy to verbalize quickly.) Really kind individuals.For the final 2 times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to broadcast real-time broadcasts of broadcast news regarding the occasion as well as affiliated tales, to be sure I was actually effectively updated. Every professional that has begun the line to talk about a treatment or even a trouble contends some aspect extended hellos to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that because of the big day of remembrance in the US, all the time folks had been actually bringing flowers as well as edging all the walls of the United States embassy in Moscow, and also this evening they were lighting candles in the road outside the embassy. Just how the world has actually altered.People all over seem to be to acknowledge the senselessness and also horror in this attack. And the enormous reduction. Moscow has dealt with these sort of complications in the last handful of years along with apartment or condo and also subway battles, so they are actually as anxious to get rid of this hazard as our team are actually. But all-time low line is that there are really good individuals just about everywhere that wish to stay in peace. I check out that a little one asked, "United States is actually so excellent to other countries, we regularly aid everybody, exactly how can they loathe our company a lot?".I really hope the example of participation as well as leave that this space capsule and all individuals in the course display daily are going to someday influence the rest of the globe to operate similarly. They must!Sadly, our company won't be actually flying over the United States while individuals are actually igniting candle lights. Don't understand if our experts can see that anyway. We carried out, nonetheless, view an incredibly unique and also beautiful sight a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. Our experts were surpassing it and it emerged concerning three moments after its launch from Baikonur as the sunshine attacked our station, so it was actually still in the dark. It looked like a sizable comet along with a right, large tail silhouetted versus the dark earth below. Despite some negative illumination for a while as the sunshine struck our home window at a low perspective, I took care of some video of it as first we passed the rocket, and afterwards enjoyed it begin to mesmerize as it acquired elevation as well as rate. I recorded until major motor cutoff as well as booster splitting up developed equally our team came close to daybreak on the Mountain ranges. An extraordinary sight in a remarkable full week ...Life takes place, also precede. Our company're below to stay ... Frank.