.Publisher's Note: The adhering to is the text of a letter coming from Exploration 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reviewing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written quite concerning specifics of this mission in the course of the month I've been actually here, generally for 2 main reasons: the initial being actually that there has been actually incredibly little bit of time to carry out that sort of creating, and also secondly considering that I am actually not exactly sure exactly how comfortable I am discussing thoughts I show friends and family with the rest of the world.Properly, clearly the planet altered today. What I state or perform is very slight reviewed to the implication of what took place to our country today when it was actually attacked by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I guess. Challenging to recognize at whom to guide our anger as well as worry ...I had just ended up a number of activities this morning, the best taxing being the physical exams of all crew participants. In a private chat complying with that, the tour plastic surgeon told me they were possessing an incredibly poor time on the ground. I had no idea ...He explained the circumstance to me as finest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually flabbergasted, then frightened. My 1st notion was actually that this had not been a real discussion, that I was still listening to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It only failed to seem achievable on this incrustation in our nation. I could not even visualize the details, even before the information of further damage started can be found in.Vladimir came by pretty promptly, picking up that one thing incredibly significant was being actually talked about. I waved Michael right into the component too. They were additionally astonished as well as stunned. After our company authorized off, I tried to clarify to Vladimir as well as Michael as greatest I could the possible magnitude of the act of terror in downtown New york and at the Pentagon. They precisely knew as well as were actually quite thoughtful.I browsed the Globe Chart on the personal computer to view where over the globe we were actually and saw that our team were coming southeast away from Canada as well as would certainly be skipping New England in a couple of moments. I zoomed around the terminal up until I found a window that will give me a viewpoint of NYC and got the nearby cam. It took place to become a camera, as well as I was appearing south from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke appeared to have a strange blossom to it at the foundation of the pillar that was streaming south of the urban area. After reading among the news articles our experts merely got, I believe our team were actually examining NY around the time of, or even soon after, the failure of the second high rise. Just how dreadful ...I swung the cam during the East Shore to the south to see if I could view some other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing was visible.It was rather hard to consider job afterwards, though our experts possessed some to carry out, yet on the following orbit we moved across the US more southern. All 3 of us were actually functioning one or two cameras to try to get sights of Nyc or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, yet no details resource might be observed. All of it looked fabulous from a couple of hundred miles away. I can not think of the awful scenes on the ground.Besides the psychological impact of our nation being actually dealt with and hundreds of our citizens as well as possibly some buddies being gotten rid of, the most mind-boggling feeling being actually where I am actually is just one of isolation.Next time ... I reckon the tiredness and also psychological stress received the very best of me. I could not stay awake and remain to compose. Today was still challenging, but our team started obtaining more information, plus our company had the honor of talking straight along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our team that the ground staffs will remain to operate and guarantee our safety and security, in addition to the safe function of the Place. Our team additionally talked to our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who added that the companions in the Program are all totally dedicated to carrying on risk-free operations and also assistance. These were never ever inquiries for me. I know all these individuals! The ground staffs have been actually surprisingly helpful, very understanding of the influence of the information, and have actually made an effort to be as beneficial as achievable. They have all been actually really qualified as well as focused though I can't think of the interruption of the sort of news being available in and also the thought and feelings that authorities properties might be in danger. They certainly never avoided a beat, also when transferring control centers. And also a team of senior employees and friends provided our team a quite extensive briefing about what was actually known and what was actually being carried out in the authorities and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was really handy as well as sort of all of them to perform in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has also been actually supporting and also helpful, attempting to uplink news articles when our own resources were actually unusable, as well as mentioning kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been fantastic, also. They know it's been a challenging day for me and the people on the ground, and they've made an effort to become as even keeled and practical as possible. Michael even corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. And they offer me plenty of space to believe when I required it. They are actually quite supportive as well as of course outraged at whoever would certainly do this.I know so many people in Washington, many folks who take a trip to DC and New York City, plenty of who are flies, that I really felt sure I will get at least a few pieces of trouble over the upcoming handful of times. I acquired the 1st one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Government was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I came across Chic in the course of plebe summer months when we resided in the D&B all together, as well as our experts possessed tons of training class all together. I can not imagine what he should of gone through, and also right now I listen to that he might have risen even further than we can easily also consider through possibly avoiding his aircraft coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Residence. What a horrible reduction, yet I'm sure Chic was combating fearlessly throughout. And also rips don't move the very same precede ...It's hard to define exactly how it experiences to be the only American fully off the world each time like this. The feeling that I ought to be there along with each one of you, coping with this, aiding in some way, is frustrating. I recognize that our experts get on the threshold (or past) of a terrible switch in the history of the planet. Many factors will never ever coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the manies thousand and also countless people directly affected through these horrible actions of terrorism, but most likely for everyone. We will locate ourselves experiencing in different ways concerning dozens of things, featuring perhaps space exploration, sadly.It's horrible to view smoke cigarettes pouring coming from cuts in your own country coming from such an amazing vantage point. The duality of getting on a space capsule dedicated to enhancing live on the earth and seeing life being actually destroyed through such purposeful, dreadful acts is jolting to the subconscious, no matter that you are actually. And also the understanding that whatever are going to be different than when our team launched due to the opportunity our company land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our country as well as in our management that we will perform every little thing possible to much better shield her and our loved ones, and to deliver justice of what has been performed. I have confidence that the excellent folks at NASA will carry out every thing essential to proceed our goal safely and securely and also return us properly at the correct time. As well as I skip every one of you quite. I can not be there along with you in person, and also we possess a very long way to head to finish our goal, yet be certain that my soul is with you, and understand you remain in my prayers.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last letter ... Luckily, it is actually been an active week up here. As well as to confirm that, like our country, we are continuing on our desired pathway with company customarily (as long as possible). Tonight the most up to date enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment will be actually launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US opportunity), it will certainly dock with our team, at a slot certainly never made use of just before on the nadir edge of the Company Component. This brand-new element will definitely offer our team another spot to dock an Improvement or Soyuz and will provide a huge airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which our company will certainly do a few of before our team get home.The complication just before in managing today was insufficient updates. The concern today is actually too much. It came at one time when e-mail was recovered, as well as there's inadequate time to read everything! Plus it is actually too hard to manage all of it immediately. But I cherish getting it, and I really enjoy the wonderful characters of assistance and friendship I am getting.Our company are actually doing well aboard, getting our job done, and also speaking about things. Final night we had a lengthy dialogue over supper regarding the value of these occasions, the possible activities to observe, as well as what should be actually done. After dinner, Michael challenged telling me that every email he received coming from close friends in Russia mentioned specifically to tell me just how regretful they were that this happened, expanding their condolences, and asking exactly how I was actually performing. Vladimir showed me the Russian term for "condolences" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Superstar Area. (Both the Russian and also the English words are actually a lot extremely long to articulate effortlessly.) Extremely types folks.For the last two days, the Russian MCC has sufficed to transfer real-time programs of broadcast updates regarding the event and affiliated stories, to see to it I was well notified. Every professional who has actually started free throw line to go over a procedure or a problem has at some factor extended greetings to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that because of the big day of recognition in the US, all the time folks had been actually carrying blooms and lining all the wall structures of the US consulate in Moscow, and this evening they were actually lighting candlesticks in the street outside the embassy. Exactly how the world has actually altered.Individuals almost everywhere appear to realize the senselessness and also terror in this particular strike. And the significant loss. Moscow has dealt with these kind of troubles in the last few years with flat and also metro bombings, so they are as restless to eliminate this hazard as our company are actually. Yet all-time low product line is that there are really good folks everywhere that want to stay in peace. I review that a little one inquired, "United States is actually so excellent to various other countries, our experts regularly aid everybody, exactly how can they hate us so much?".I really hope the example of collaboration and also rely on that this space capsule and all people in the plan show daily will someday inspire the rest of the planet to work the same way. They must!Unfortunately, our company won't be flighting over the US during the time folks are igniting candle lights. Do not understand if our experts might view that in any case. We performed, however, see a really unique and attractive view a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were actually overtaking it and also it came into view concerning 3 mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sun attacked our station, so it was still at night. It seemed like a large comet along with a straight, large tail silhouetted versus the black planet beneath. In spite of some poor lighting for a while as the sun struck our home window at a reduced position, I handled some video clip of it as first our experts passed the rocket, and then viewed it start to mesmerize as it acquired height and speed. I filmed up until primary engine cutoff as well as booster separation happened equally our company came close to dawn on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in an extraordinary week ...Life takes place, also precede. Our experts're right here to stay ... Frank.