.Publisher's Details: The adhering to is the message of a letter coming from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reflecting on the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created very much concerning specifics of this particular purpose during the course of the month I have actually been actually listed here, mostly for two explanations: the first being actually that there has been extremely little opportunity to carry out that kind of creating, and also the second thing is because I am actually not sure how comfy I am discussing thoughts I share with friends and family with the remainder of the planet.Well, definitely the world altered today. What I state or even do is actually extremely minor matched up to the value of what took place to our country today when it was assaulted through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we know, I presume. Challenging to understand at whom to route our rage and anxiety ...I had actually just finished a variety of tasks this morning, the best time-consuming being the physical exams of all staff participants. In a personal chat complying with that, the flight plastic surgeon told me they were possessing an incredibly poor day on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He explained the scenario to me as ideal he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was thrown for a loop, at that point frightened. My 1st notion was actually that this had not been a genuine discussion, that I was still listening to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to appear feasible on this scale in our nation. I could not even imagine the details, even just before the updates of additional devastation started being available in.Vladimir came by fairly quickly, noticing that one thing really serious was being talked about. I waved Michael into the component too. They were likewise surprised and also stunned. After our company signed off, I made an effort to explain to Vladimir and also Michael as absolute best I could possibly the potential immensity of the show of fear in downtown New york as well as at the Government. They accurately understood and also were extremely compassionate.I glanced at the Planet Map on the computer to view where over the planet our team were actually and also noticed that we were happening southeast out of Canada as well as would be actually skipping New England in a couple of minutes. I zoomed around the station until I discovered a home window that would provide me a scenery of New York City and also got hold of the nearest video camera. It took place to be a camera, and I was looking southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to possess a strange bloom to it at the bottom of the column that was actually streaming south of the area. After reading some of the newspaper article our company simply obtained, I feel our company were checking out NY around the amount of time of, or even quickly after, the crash of the 2nd high rise. Just how horrendous ...I swung the camera the whole time the East Shore to the south to observe if I could possibly find every other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was rather tough to think of work afterwards, though our company possessed some to perform, but on the next orbit our team went across the US additional south. All 3 people were operating a couple of video cameras to make an effort to get viewpoints of The big apple or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, yet no particular resource can be viewed. All of it appeared astonishing from a couple of hundred miles away. I can not visualize the heartbreaking scenes on the ground.Other than the mental impact of our country being actually dealt with and also countless our people as well as perhaps some close friends being killed, the most difficult emotion being actually where I am actually is one of seclusion.Next day ... I reckon the fatigue as well as psychological strain acquired the most effective of me. I could not remain awake as well as remain to create. Today was actually still challenging, but our experts started acquiring additional relevant information, plus we possessed the respect of talking directly along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that ensured our team that the ground groups would certainly continue to operate and also ensure our protection, in addition to the risk-free function of the Station. Our company also spoke with our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the companions in the Program are all totally dedicated to continuing safe functions as well as help. These were actually certainly never concerns for me. I recognize all these people! The ground groups have actually been actually very helpful, very understanding of the influence of the news, and have made an effort to become as valuable as feasible. They have all been quite specialist as well as concentrated though I can't think of the distraction of this particular type of headlines can be found in and the notion that authorities buildings could be in jeopardy. They never skipped a beat, also when relocating nerve center. As well as a team of senior employees as well as good friends gave us a quite thorough instruction on what was actually known as well as what was being performed in the federal government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was very valuable and also kind of all of them to do in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has additionally been encouraging and also handy, making an effort to uplink news articles when our very own assets were unusable, and stating kind words ...My crewmates have been actually wonderful, also. They know it's been a tough time for me and the individuals on the ground, and they have actually tried to become as also keeled and also useful as achievable. Michael also corrected me my beloved Borscht soup for dinner. And also they offer me plenty of area to assume when I needed it. They are actually really compassionate as well as of course outraged at whoever would certainly do this.I know a lot of individuals in Washington, many individuals that travel to DC and also NYC, so many that are captains, that I experienced sure I will receive at least a few items of trouble over the upcoming handful of days. I obtained the 1st one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of cadet summer when we resided in the D&B all together, and also our company had tons of lessons all together. I can not envision what he must of looked at, and also right now I listen to that he might have climbed even more than our company may even consider by probably avoiding his airplane coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Property. What a terrible loss, yet I ensure Chic was combating fearlessly to the end. And also splits don't move the very same precede ...It's challenging to describe just how it feels to become the only American completely off the earth at once such as this. The sensation that I should exist along with each of you, taking care of this, aiding in some way, is mind-boggling. I know that our company get on the threshold (or beyond) of an awful shift in the history of the globe. Lots of traits will never coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the thousands and 1000s of people straight impacted by these horrendous actions of terrorism, however perhaps for we all. We will locate ourselves feeling in a different way about loads of things, featuring possibly area exploration, sadly.It's dreadful to view smoke pouring from injuries in your very own nation coming from such a superb point of view. The duality of getting on a space probe devoted to boosting everyday life on the earth and watching life being damaged by such planned, horrible acts is actually jolting to the psyche, despite that you are. As well as the know-how that everything are going to be actually different than when we launched by the opportunity our team land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and also in our leadership that our company are going to do every little thing possible to much better defend her as well as our loved ones, as well as to deliver justice of what has actually been actually carried out. I have assurance that the great individuals at NASA will definitely carry out everything needed to proceed our goal securely as well as return our team properly at the correct time. And also I overlook every one of you significantly. I can not be there along with you in person, and our experts have a very long way to go to finish our purpose, however be certain that my heart is actually with you, as well as know you remain in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the final letter ... The good news is, it's been actually an active full week up below. And also to confirm that, like our country, our company are advancing our designated path with business customarily (as high as achievable). Tonight the most recent add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber are going to be introduced coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States time), it will definitely dock along with our company, at a slot never made use of prior to on the nadir edge of the Company Module. This brand-new module will definitely give our team one more location to dock a Progress or even Soyuz as well as will give a large airlock along with two able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which our team will do a few of before our team get home.The issue prior to in dealing with this week was actually inadequate news. The problem right now is too much. It came all at once when e-mail was actually brought back, and also there's not nearly enough time to read all of it! Plus it's also tough to deal with all of it at once. But I appreciate obtaining it, and also I really cherish the wonderful letters of help and also friendly relationship I am actually getting.We are actually doing well on board, getting our job done, and talking about factors. Final evening our company possessed a lengthy conversation over supper concerning the significance of these occasions, the feasible activities to adhere to, as well as what should be actually performed. After supper, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he obtained from buddies in Russia pointed out specifically to tell me exactly how sorry they were actually that this taken place, prolonging their acknowledgements, and asking how I was actually doing. Vladimir educated me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian as well as the English words are actually much too long to articulate simply.) Incredibly kind people.For the last two days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to broadcast real-time programs of radio information concerning the activity and associated tales, to make certain I was properly updated. Every specialist who has actually started free throw line to review a procedure or even a problem contends some aspect expanded greetings to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our company that because of the big day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day people had been carrying flowers and edging all the walls of the US embassy in Moscow, as well as this night they were actually igniting candlesticks in the street outside the consular office. Just how the world has actually altered.People just about everywhere appear to acknowledge the senselessness and horror in this particular assault. And also the incredible reduction. Moscow has handled these sort of troubles in the last handful of years with home as well as train bombings, so they are as troubled to get rid of this threat as our company are actually. However the bottom line is actually that there are actually good individuals just about everywhere that would like to stay in tranquility. I read through that a kid asked, "The United States is actually therefore good to various other countries, our experts constantly assist everyone, just how can they despise our company so much?".I hope the instance of teamwork and leave that this space probe and all the people in the course demonstrate daily will someday influence the rest of the world to work similarly. They must!Regrettably, our company will not be actually piloting over the United States while folks are lighting candlesticks. Don't understand if our team could view that anyhow. We performed, having said that, see an extremely unusual as well as beautiful sight a handful of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. Our team were eclipsing it and it came into view regarding 3 mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our station, so it was still in the dark. It appeared like a sizable comet along with a directly, broad rear silhouetted versus the dark planet beneath. Despite some poor lighting fixtures for a while as the sunlight struck our home window at a reduced viewpoint, I took care of some video recording of it as first our company passed the spacecraft, and after that enjoyed it start to mesmerize as it gained height and also velocity. I recorded until major motor deadline and enhancer splitting up took place equally as our experts moved toward daybreak on the Mountain ranges. A memorable attraction in an extraordinary week ...Lifestyle goes on, even in space. Our team are actually listed here to remain ... Frank.