.Editor's Note: The following is the message of a character coming from Trip 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reassessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written very much about specifics of this particular goal in the course of the month I have actually been actually right here, primarily for two reasons: the initial being that there has been actually quite little opportunity to accomplish that kind of creating, as well as the second thing is since I am actually not sure just how comfy I am actually discussing thoughts I share with friends and family with the rest of the globe.Properly, undoubtedly the world modified today. What I say or perform is actually really slight compared to the importance of what happened to our nation today when it was struck through ... through whom? Terrorists is all we know, I reckon. Challenging to know at whom to drive our anger and worry ...I had merely completed an amount of duties today, the absolute most lengthy being the physical exams of all workers members. In an exclusive chat complying with that, the air travel doctor told me they were having a really negative time on the ground. I possessed no idea ...He explained the situation to me as greatest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually made speechless, at that point terrified. My 1st idea was actually that this had not been a real chat, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to appear feasible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even think of the details, also prior to the updates of additional devastation began coming in.Vladimir came rather swiftly, picking up that something incredibly significant was actually being reviewed. I swung Michael right into the module as well. They were actually likewise blown away as well as stunned. After our team signed off, I made an effort to reveal to Vladimir and Michael as best I can the possible immensity of the act of terror in midtown New york and at the Pentagon. They clearly knew as well as were really thoughtful.I glanced at the Planet Chart on the computer to view where over the world our company were and also observed that our experts were actually coming southeast away from Canada and would be passing over New England in a few minutes. I whized around the terminal until I discovered a home window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City and also nabbed the nearest electronic camera. It happened to become a camera, and also I was actually looking south coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reading some of the newspaper article we just received, I believe our company were examining NY around the moment of, or even quickly after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. Just how horrible ...I swept the camera the whole time the East Shore to the south to see if I might find some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, however absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually fairly tough to think of job after that, though our team had some to perform, but on the following track our experts went across the United States further southern. All 3 people were actually functioning 1 or 2 cameras to try to get perspectives of The big apple or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no details source may be viewed. Everything appeared amazing coming from a couple of hundred miles away. I can not think of the heartbreaking settings on the ground.Aside from the emotional influence of our nation being tackled as well as 1000s of our residents and also perhaps some pals being killed, the absolute most overwhelming feeling being actually where I am is among isolation.Next day ... I suppose the exhaustion and emotional pressure obtained the very best of me. I could not stay awake and remain to write. Today was actually still hard, yet our team began receiving more info, plus our experts had the tribute of speaking straight along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, who assured us that the ground staffs would remain to work as well as guarantee our security, in addition to the secure function of the Place. We also talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that added that the partners in the Program are all totally devoted to carrying on risk-free functions and also assistance. These were never ever concerns for me. I know all these people! The ground crews have actually been astonishingly supportive, really understanding of the influence of the news, and have made an effort to be as practical as achievable. They have all been quite professional and focused though I can not think of the diversion of this particular type of updates can be found in as well as the thought that authorities structures could be in danger. They never ever skipped a beat, also when moving nerve center. And a group of senior employees and also close friends provided us a rather detailed briefing on what was known and what was actually being done in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually extremely helpful and also kind of them to accomplish in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has also been supporting as well as practical, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our very own possessions were actually unusable, and pointing out kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been great, as well. They understand it's been actually a hard day for me and also the folks on the ground, and also they have actually made an effort to be as even keeled and also valuable as feasible. Michael also corrected me my beloved Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me a lot of area to believe when I needed it. They are really supportive and certainly shocked at whoever will perform this.I recognize numerous people in Washington, a lot of people that take a trip to DC and New York City, numerous that are actually captains, that I really felt certain I would obtain at the very least a couple of items of problem over the next couple of times. I obtained the first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that hit the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic during the course of plebe summer months when our team were in the D&B all together, as well as our company had tons of training class together. I can't envision what he must of looked at, and currently I listen to that he may possess increased even further than we may also think of by potentially preventing his airplane from being the one to attack the White Home. What a terrible loss, but I make certain Chic was actually dealing with bravely to the end. And also rips do not move the exact same precede ...It's hard to illustrate exactly how it experiences to be the only American totally off the world at a time including this. The feeling that I should be there along with each one of you, taking care of this, assisting somehow, is actually mind-boggling. I understand that our company get on the limit (or beyond) of a horrendous switch in the past of the planet. Many points will certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Not only for the 1000s and hundreds of people straight impacted by these horrible process of terrorism, yet probably for we all. Our team will certainly discover ourselves really feeling differently about lots of traits, featuring most likely area exploration, regrettably.It is actually dreadful to see smoke putting coming from cuts in your own country from such a great angle. The dichotomy of getting on a spacecraft dedicated to enhancing live on the earth as well as viewing lifestyle being destroyed by such intentional, terrible actions is jolting to the subconscious, despite who you are. As well as the knowledge that every little thing will definitely be actually various than when we released by the opportunity our team land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and also in our leadership that our team will certainly carry out every little thing possible to far better defend her as well as our loved ones, as well as to deliver justice of what has been actually performed. I possess self-confidence that the great people at NASA will perform every thing necessary to proceed our purpose properly as well as return us carefully at the right time. As well as I miss out on each one of you quite. I can't be there with you in person, and our team possess a long way to head to complete our objective, but be certain that my heart is with you, as well as understand you reside in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final character ... Luckily, it's been an active week up listed here. As well as to verify that, like our nation, our team are actually continuing on our planned pathway along with business customarily (as high as feasible). Tonight the most up to date enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment are going to be released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States opportunity), it will definitely dock with our company, at a port certainly never utilized prior to on the nadir side of the Solution Component. This brand-new component is going to offer our company one more location to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also will definitely supply a big airlock along with pair of able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our company will definitely carry out a few of prior to we return.The complication just before in taking care of today was inadequate information. The concern now is actually a lot of. It came at one time when email was actually repaired, and also there is actually not nearly enough opportunity to review everything! Plus it's too challenging to handle all of it at once. Yet I appreciate acquiring it, as well as I truly appreciate the excellent characters of help as well as companionship I am actually receiving.Our team are prospering on board, acquiring our work done, and also discussing factors. Last evening our team had a long dialogue over dinner about the importance of these celebrations, the achievable actions to comply with, and what need to be carried out. After supper, Michael resolved telling me that every email he received from pals in Russia said primarily to tell me exactly how sorry they were that this taken place, stretching their condolences, and asking exactly how I was actually performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian term for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English terms are actually a lot extremely long to pronounce easily.) Quite type individuals.For the final two times, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit online shows of radio headlines regarding the activity and also affiliated stories, to make sure I was actually well educated. Every professional that has come on free throw line to explain a technique or even a concern has at some aspect prolonged hellos to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that as a result of the big day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day folks had been carrying flowers as well as lining all the wall structures of the US embassy in Moscow, and also this night they were lighting candle lights in the road outside the consular office. Just how the globe has changed.People everywhere seem to be to acknowledge the senselessness and also terror within this strike. And also the incredible loss. Moscow has actually coped with these type of troubles in the last few years along with apartment and metro bombings, so they are as distressed to do away with this hazard as we are. But all-time low line is that there are good people everywhere that would like to live in peace. I read through that a little one talked to, "The United States is so good to various other nations, our team always aid everyone, just how can they dislike us a lot?".I hope the instance of teamwork and also rely on that this space capsule plus all people in the system illustrate daily will sooner or later inspire the remainder of the world to work similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our experts will not be actually flying over the US during the time people are actually igniting candle lights. Don't know if our team can see that anyway. Our experts carried out, however, view a quite unique and also beautiful sight a handful of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. We were actually overtaking it as well as it appeared about 3 mins after its own launch from Baikonur as the sun struck our terminal, so it was actually still unaware. It resembled a big comet with a directly, large rear silhouetted versus the dark earth under. Despite some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sunshine hit our home window at a reduced angle, I managed some video recording of it as initially our team passed the spacecraft, and then saw it start to catch up as it acquired height and also rate. I recorded up until primary engine cutoff and also booster separation developed equally as we approached sunup on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable attraction in a remarkable full week ...Life takes place, even in space. We are actually listed below to remain ... Frank.