.Publisher's Details: The complying with is the text of a character coming from Exploration Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), assessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed significantly concerning specifics of this objective during the month I've been right here, generally for pair of main reasons: the first being that there has been very little time to carry out that sort of writing, as well as second of all since I am actually not exactly sure exactly how comfy I am discussing thought and feelings I show friends and family with the remainder of the planet.Well, clearly the world altered today. What I point out or even do is actually quite minor matched up to the importance of what occurred to our country today when it was attacked through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we know, I suspect. Difficult to recognize at whom to guide our rage and also concern ...I had actually just finished a lot of jobs today, the absolute most time-consuming being actually the physical exams of all staff members. In an exclusive conversation complying with that, the flight doctor informed me they were actually possessing an extremely poor day on the ground. I possessed no idea ...He explained the situation to me as best he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually dumbfounded, then alarmed. My very first notion was that this had not been a true talk, that I was still paying attention to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It only failed to seem feasible on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even picture the details, also before the news of further destruction began can be found in.Vladimir came pretty quickly, noticing that something extremely severe was being reviewed. I swayed Michael right into the component as well. They were actually likewise amazed and stunned. After our team authorized off, I attempted to reveal to Vladimir and also Michael as greatest I can the potential size of this particular show of terror in midtown Manhattan and at the Government. They accurately understood and were extremely understanding.I eyed the Planet Chart on the computer to find where over the world our experts were and also discovered that our company were actually happening southeast away from Canada and also would be passing over New England in a handful of minutes. I whized around the terminal until I discovered a home window that would offer me a sight of NYC as well as took hold of the closest cam. It took place to become a video camera, and also I was appearing southern from the home window of Michael's cabin.The smoke seemed to possess a strange flower to it at the bottom of the column that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After checking out some of the news articles our team simply received, I think our team were examining NY around the amount of time of, or shortly after, the collapse of the 2nd tower. Exactly how terrible ...I scanned the cam all along the East Coastline to the south to observe if I could possibly see some other smoke around Washington, or even anywhere else, but nothing was visible.It was actually quite complicated to deal with job after that, though we possessed some to accomplish, however on the upcoming track our company moved across the United States more southern. All 3 people were actually functioning 1 or 2 electronic cameras to attempt to acquire views of New York or even Washington. There was fog over Washington, however no details resource can be observed. Everything looked amazing coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can't visualize the heartbreaking scenes on the ground.Aside from the psychological influence of our country being actually attacked as well as thousands of our citizens as well as perhaps some buddies being gotten rid of, one of the most overwhelming feeling being where I am actually is just one of solitude.Following day ... I suspect the fatigue as well as emotional pressure received the most effective of me. I could not keep awake and also continue to create. Today was still complicated, however our team started receiving even more information, plus our company possessed the tribute of speaking directly with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured our company that the ground crews would certainly continue to operate and also guarantee our protection, along with the safe procedure of the Station. Our experts likewise talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the partners in the System are all absolutely committed to continuing secure functions and also assistance. These were actually certainly never inquiries for me. I recognize all these folks! The ground groups have actually been actually very supportive, quite understanding of the effect of the news, and have actually tried to become as valuable as achievable. They have all been very specialist as well as centered though I can't think of the distraction of this particular type of updates can be found in as well as the thought that authorities structures could be in danger. They never bypassed a beat, even when moving control centers. And a team of elderly personnel as well as buddies offered us a quite detailed rundown about what was known and what was actually being actually performed in the government and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was quite handy and also kind of them to carry out in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been helpful and also useful, trying to uplink newspaper article when our very own possessions were unusable, and mentioning kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been fantastic, too. They understand it's been actually a challenging day for me as well as the folks on the ground, and they've tried to be as also keeled as well as helpful as possible. Michael also corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. And also they offer me plenty of area to presume when I required it. They are actually quite considerate as well as certainly shocked at whoever will perform this.I understand a lot of individuals in Washington, many people who take a trip to DC as well as New York City, a lot of who are pilots, that I really felt sure I will obtain at the very least a couple of pieces of bad news over the next few days. I received the first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines jet that hit the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I met Chic during the course of cadet summertime when we were in the D&B all together, and our company possessed tons of courses with each other. I can't visualize what he must of experienced, and also right now I hear that he might have climbed even further than our company can also think about through possibly avoiding his aircraft coming from being actually the one to tackle the White Home. What a horrible loss, but I make sure Chic was dealing with fearlessly to the end. And splits don't move the very same in space ...It's difficult to describe just how it feels to become the only United States totally off the planet at once including this. The emotion that I should exist along with each one of you, taking care of this, helping somehow, is frustrating. I know that our team get on the limit (or beyond) of an awful change in the history of the planet. A lot of points will never ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not just for the manies thousand and 1000s of folks directly affected by these hideous acts of terrorism, but possibly for everybody. Our experts will certainly discover our own selves feeling in a different way about lots of things, including possibly room expedition, however.It's horrendous to observe smoke pouring from cuts in your very own nation from such a great vantage point. The dichotomy of being on a space probe committed to strengthening life on the earth and also watching lifestyle being ruined through such conscious, horrendous actions is jolting to the subconscious, despite that you are. And also the understanding that everything will be various than when our team introduced due to the time our experts land is a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our leadership that we will perform every little thing feasible to better defend her and our family members, as well as to take justice wherefore has actually been done. I possess assurance that the excellent individuals at NASA will certainly do everything required to proceed our objective safely and securely as well as return our team safely and securely at the correct time. And also I skip all of you quite. I can not exist with you personally, and our company possess a very long way to head to complete our purpose, however be certain that my soul is actually with you, and also recognize you remain in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the last character ... Thankfully, it's been an occupied full week up listed here. And to verify that, like our country, our team are advancing our intended path with company as usual (as much as achievable). Tonight the current enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will definitely be launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (US time), it will definitely dock with us, at a port never utilized prior to on the low point side of the Solution Component. This brand new component will certainly offer our company one more place to dock a Progression or Soyuz as well as are going to supply a sizable airlock with two useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our experts will carry out a few of prior to our experts get home.The concern just before in taking care of this week was actually insufficient updates. The problem now is actually too much. It arrived simultaneously when email was restored, as well as there's not nearly enough opportunity to read everything! Plus it is actually too difficult to manage all of it immediately. However I value receiving it, and I really enjoy the excellent characters of help as well as companionship I am getting.Our team are actually doing well aboard, receiving our work done, and also speaking about things. Final night we possessed a lengthy discussion over dinner about the implication of these celebrations, the feasible actions to comply with, and also what ought to be actually carried out. After dinner, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he got coming from buddies in Russia said especially to tell me just how regretful they were that this occurred, stretching their acknowledgements, and also asking just how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir showed me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Urban area. (Both the Russian and also the English words are actually much too lengthy to verbalize effortlessly.) Extremely type folks.For the final two times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to broadcast online shows of broadcast news about the event and connected stories, to see to it I was actually well educated. Every expert that has come on the line to cover a treatment or even an issue contends some aspect prolonged introductions to me along with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that as a result of the big day of remembrance in the US, all the time folks had actually been actually carrying florals as well as lining all the wall structures of the United States consulate in Moscow, and this evening they were igniting candle lights in the road outside the embassy. How the globe has actually modified.Folks almost everywhere seem to be to acknowledge the senselessness and terror in this strike. And also the enormous reduction. Moscow has coped with these type of concerns in the final couple of years along with home and subway battles, so they are actually as troubled to do away with this threat as we are. Yet the bottom line is actually that there are great folks just about everywhere that would like to live in tranquility. I go through that a youngster talked to, "United States is thus great to various other countries, our experts always aid everybody, how can they dislike our company a great deal?".I wish the example of teamwork as well as depend on that this space capsule and all individuals in the plan display daily will at some point motivate the remainder of the planet to function similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our team will not be actually flying over the US while people are actually lighting candlesticks. Do not recognize if our experts can view that in any case. Our company carried out, nevertheless, observe a very uncommon as well as beautiful sight a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz booster. Our experts were overtaking it as well as it emerged concerning three moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our station, so it was still unaware. It appeared like a huge comet along with a straight, vast tail silhouetted versus the darker earth under. Regardless of some poor lights for a while as the sunlight hit our home window at a reduced angle, I managed some video recording of it as first we passed the rocket, and afterwards watched it start to catch up as it obtained altitude and rate. I filmed up until primary engine cutoff and enhancer splitting up developed equally as we approached sunrise on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable view in a memorable week ...Lifestyle happens, also precede. Our company are actually below to stay ... Frank.