.Editor's Keep in mind: The complying with is the content of a letter from Expedition 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reassessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't created very much about specifics of the objective during the course of the month I've been below, mostly for pair of causes: the very first being that there has actually been actually very little bit of opportunity to perform that type of composing, and also secondly given that I am actually unsure exactly how relaxed I am actually sharing notions I share with friends and family with the rest of the planet.Effectively, definitely the world transformed today. What I state or even do is incredibly slight reviewed to the value of what took place to our nation today when it was actually struck through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I suppose. Hard to recognize at whom to guide our rage and fear ...I had actually merely finished an amount of jobs today, one of the most taxing being actually the physical exams of all crew participants. In a personal chat adhering to that, the tour plastic surgeon told me they were having a very negative time on the ground. I had no suggestion ...He illustrated the condition to me as ideal he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually overwhelmed, then horrified. My 1st thought was actually that this wasn't a genuine discussion, that I was actually still listening closely to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to seem possible on this incrustation in our nation. I couldn't also envision the details, also prior to the updates of further devastation started coming in.Vladimir dropped in fairly quickly, noticing that something really major was being gone over. I waved Michael into the element as well. They were also astonished as well as stunned. After we signed off, I attempted to clarify to Vladimir as well as Michael as absolute best I can the possible magnitude of the show of terror in downtown Manhattan and at the Government. They clearly recognized as well as were really sympathetic.I eyed the Globe Map on the personal computer to observe where over the globe our experts were actually as well as discovered that our company were actually coming southeast out of Canada and will be skipping New England in a couple of minutes. I zipped around the station until I located a home window that would certainly offer me a scenery of New York City and got the nearest cam. It occurred to be a camera, and also I was appearing south coming from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke seemed to be to possess a weird flower to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the urban area. After reviewing one of the newspaper article we only got, I feel our company were examining NY around the moment of, or not long after, the failure of the 2nd tower. Exactly how terrible ...I swung the video camera during the East Coast to the south to see if I can observe some other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, however nothing was visible.It was rather hard to consider work afterwards, though we possessed some to do, but on the upcoming track our experts moved across the United States further south. All 3 of us were actually operating one or two cams to try to get scenery of The big apple or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, however no details resource might be found. It all appeared awesome from 2 to 3 hundred miles away. I can't imagine the unfortunate settings on the ground.Other than the emotional influence of our nation being tackled and also countless our citizens and possibly some pals being gotten rid of, one of the most frustrating sensation being actually where I am is one of solitude.Following day ... I suppose the fatigue and emotional pressure obtained the best of me. I couldn't keep awake as well as remain to create. Today was still complicated, however our team began acquiring more info, plus we possessed the respect of speaking straight with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who ensured us that the ground staffs would certainly remain to operate and guarantee our security, as well as the secure function of the Station. Our company additionally spoke with our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that added that the companions in the Program are all absolutely committed to carrying on secure functions as well as support. These were certainly never questions for me. I understand all these folks! The ground crews have been actually extremely helpful, quite understanding of the impact of the news, and also have tried to be as useful as feasible. They have all been actually quite specialist as well as concentrated though I can not imagine the interruption of this kind of updates can be found in and the idea that authorities buildings might be at risk. They never ever bypassed a beat, even when moving control centers. And a group of elderly staffs and close friends provided us a pretty thorough instruction on what was recognized as well as what was actually being actually performed in the government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was really practical and sort of all of them to accomplish in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has additionally been supporting and beneficial, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our very own assets were unusable, and mentioning kind words ...My crewmates have been excellent, as well. They recognize it is actually been a challenging time for me as well as the people on the ground, as well as they have actually tried to be as also keeled as well as practical as feasible. Michael also corrected me my preferred Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they provide me loads of space to assume when I required it. They are actually really considerate as well as of course shocked at whoever would perform this.I know plenty of folks in Washington, plenty of individuals who travel to DC and NYC, numerous who are actually pilots, that I really felt sure I will acquire at least a couple of parts of trouble over the upcoming handful of times. I got the 1st one today when I knew that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I came across Chic throughout plebe summertime when our team were in the D&B all together, as well as we had lots of lessons with each other. I can't visualize what he must of experienced, as well as right now I hear that he may possess risen even further than our experts can easily even think of by possibly preventing his plane from being actually the one to attack the White Property. What a horrible loss, but I make certain Chic was fighting fearlessly to the end. As well as rips don't stream the exact same in space ...It is actually complicated to describe just how it really feels to become the only United States completely off the world each time like this. The sensation that I need to exist along with each one of you, handling this, assisting somehow, is actually overwhelming. I know that our company perform the limit (or even past) of a horrible shift in the background of the planet. Several points will definitely never coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the 1000s and also countless people straight had an effect on through these ghastly process of terrorism, however probably for everyone. Our team will definitely locate ourselves experiencing in different ways concerning lots of factors, including possibly room exploration, regrettably.It is actually horrible to view smoke putting coming from wounds in your personal nation coming from such an awesome vantage point. The duality of getting on a space capsule committed to strengthening everyday life on the planet and checking out life being ruined through such purposeful, horrendous acts is actually jolting to the mind, regardless of that you are. And the understanding that every little thing will be actually various than when our company released by the opportunity we land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our nation as well as in our leadership that we are going to carry out every little thing feasible to better protect her as well as our families, as well as to deliver compensation for what has been actually performed. I possess self-confidence that the really good folks at NASA will certainly carry out every little thing needed to continue our objective safely and securely and return us securely at the correct time. And also I miss out on each of you significantly. I can't exist with you personally, and also our company have a long way to head to accomplish our goal, yet be particular that my heart is with you, and also understand you reside in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last character ... Thankfully, it is actually been an active full week up listed here. And to prove that, like our nation, our team are advancing our desired pathway along with organization as usual (as long as possible). Tonight the latest addition to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment will certainly be actually launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States time), it will definitely dock with us, at a port certainly never made use of prior to on the low point edge of the Service Component. This new module will definitely offer us an additional area to dock a Progression or even Soyuz and will certainly deliver a big airlock with 2 useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our experts will certainly carry out a few of before we get back.The complication before in taking care of today was actually too little headlines. The problem right now is way too much. It arrived at one time when e-mail was actually repaired, and also there's insufficient opportunity to review it all! Plus it's as well challenging to cope with all of it simultaneously. But I enjoy obtaining it, and I definitely enjoy the excellent characters of help and also companionship I am getting.Our team are doing well aboard, getting our job performed, and also discussing factors. Last evening our team had a long discussion over supper regarding the implication of these activities, the feasible actions to observe, and also what need to be actually carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every e-mail he obtained from close friends in Russia said especially to inform me exactly how sorry they were actually that this happened, prolonging their acknowledgements, and talking to exactly how I was performing. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Urban area. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are actually considerably extremely long to verbalize simply.) Incredibly type individuals.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit real-time broadcasts of radio information about the occasion as well as affiliated stories, to ensure I was actually well informed. Every expert that has started the line to explain a treatment or even a trouble contends some aspect stretched greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that due to the big day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day individuals had been actually bringing blossoms as well as edging all the walls of the United States consular office in Moscow, as well as this evening they were actually igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consulate. Exactly how the planet has changed.People just about everywhere seem to identify the senselessness and terror within this strike. As well as the remarkable loss. Moscow has taken care of these sort of complications in the final handful of years with flat as well as subway battles, so they are as anxious to eliminate this hazard as our experts are actually. Yet all-time low product line is that there are great people all over who want to stay in tranquility. I read that a child asked, "United States is actually so really good to various other nations, we consistently help everyone, exactly how can they detest us a lot?".I wish the example of cooperation and also count on that this space probe and all individuals in the program display daily are going to one day inspire the remainder of the globe to work the same way. They must!Unfortunately, our company won't be flying over the United States while folks are actually igniting candlesticks. Don't recognize if our team can observe that anyhow. Our team carried out, nonetheless, view a really unusual as well as wonderful view a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our company were actually eclipsing it and also it came into view regarding 3 moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunshine attacked our station, so it was actually still at night. It looked like a sizable comet with a right, large tail silhouetted against the darker planet below. In spite of some poor lights for some time as the sunlight attacked our home window at a reduced angle, I handled some video recording of it as to begin with our company passed the spacecraft, and afterwards enjoyed it begin to mesmerize as it got altitude as well as velocity. I recorded till primary engine deadline as well as enhancer splitting up occurred equally as our team approached daybreak on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable view in a remarkable full week ...Lifestyle happens, also in space. Our experts're listed below to keep ... Frank.