.Editor's Keep in mind: The complying with is the text message of a letter from Exploration Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), assessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed very much concerning specifics of the mission throughout the month I have actually been below, generally for 2 factors: the first being that there has been actually really little bit of time to accomplish that type of composing, and furthermore, because I'm uncertain just how relaxed I am sharing thought and feelings I provide friends and family with the rest of the world.Well, certainly the world modified today. What I state or even do is actually really slight matched up to the importance of what occurred to our nation today when it was struck through ... by whom? Revolutionaries is actually all we understand, I presume. Tough to recognize at whom to point our rage and also anxiety ...I had actually just ended up a lot of duties this morning, the best time-consuming being actually the physical exams of all crew participants. In a private chat complying with that, the flight surgeon told me they were actually having an incredibly poor time on the ground. I had no idea ...He described the condition to me as ideal he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually overwhelmed, after that frightened. My 1st notion was that this had not been a real discussion, that I was actually still listening to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to seem feasible on this incrustation in our nation. I couldn't also think of the particulars, even just before the news of more destruction began can be found in.Vladimir came over pretty rapidly, picking up that something really significant was actually being actually discussed. I waved Michael in to the component too. They were actually additionally astonished and also stunned. After we authorized off, I tried to reveal to Vladimir as well as Michael as greatest I could the potential enormity of the show of fear in midtown Manhattan as well as at the Pentagon. They accurately knew and were actually really understanding.I browsed the World Chart on the computer system to see where over the globe our company were and observed that our team were actually happening southeast out of Canada and will be overlooking New England in a couple of moments. I zipped around the terminal till I located a home window that would certainly give me a scenery of New York City as well as got hold of the nearby electronic camera. It took place to be a camera, and also I was actually looking south from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to possess an odd blossom to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the urban area. After reading among the newspaper article our company only obtained, I believe our team were examining NY around the moment of, or shortly after, the failure of the 2nd high rise. Exactly how unpleasant ...I scanned the video camera all along the East Shoreline to the south to view if I could possibly view some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet nothing at all was visible.It was pretty complicated to think about work afterwards, though our team possessed some to carry out, but on the upcoming track our company went across the United States additional south. All 3 of us were actually operating one or two cams to make an effort to get viewpoints of New york city or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, but no specific resource could be seen. It all appeared incredible from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can not think of the unfortunate scenes on the ground.Aside from the emotional impact of our nation being dealt with and countless our people and perhaps some friends being actually gotten rid of, the best overwhelming emotion being actually where I am is just one of seclusion.Following day ... I reckon the fatigue and mental tension obtained the most ideal of me. I could not remain awake as well as remain to write. Today was still complicated, however we began acquiring even more information, plus our experts had the respect of talking straight with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured our company that the ground groups will remain to work and also guarantee our security, as well as the risk-free procedure of the Station. Our company likewise learnt through our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the partners in the Course are all entirely devoted to continuing risk-free procedures as well as help. These were actually never inquiries for me. I understand all these individuals! The ground teams have been astonishingly encouraging, quite understanding of the impact of the updates, and also have attempted to be as helpful as possible. They have actually all been very specialist and concentrated though I can't picture the diversion of this particular kind of updates coming in and the notion that federal government structures may be vulnerable. They certainly never avoided a beat, also when moving control centers. As well as a team of elderly personnel and buddies offered our company a pretty in depth briefing on what was known and what was actually being actually performed in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was very handy and also sort of them to carry out in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been helpful and also helpful, making an effort to uplink newspaper article when our personal assets were inoperable, and saying kind terms ...My crewmates have been wonderful, also. They recognize it is actually been a tough time for me and the individuals on the ground, as well as they have actually made an effort to become as also keeled and also valuable as achievable. Michael even fixed me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. And they offer me a lot of space to believe when I needed it. They are actually really compassionate and also naturally shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I recognize plenty of folks in Washington, so many individuals who journey to DC and also NYC, plenty of that are actually pilots, that I felt certain I would acquire at least a handful of pieces of problem over the upcoming handful of days. I acquired the initial one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that struck the Government was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I met Chic in the course of plebe summer season when our experts remained in the D&B together, as well as we had bunches of courses with each other. I can not picture what he should of undergone, and also now I hear that he may have climbed even further than our experts can even think about by probably avoiding his plane from being the one to tackle the White House. What a terrible loss, yet I make sure Chic was fighting fearlessly to the end. And tears do not move the very same precede ...It is actually tough to describe exactly how it really feels to be the only United States completely off the earth at a time including this. The sensation that I should be there with all of you, managing this, aiding somehow, is actually overwhelming. I know that our experts get on the limit (or even beyond) of a terrible change in the history of the world. Lots of points will certainly never coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the thousands and 1000s of people directly impacted through these ghastly actions of violence, however most likely for everybody. Our experts will definitely discover our own selves really feeling in a different way regarding lots of traits, including most likely area expedition, however.It is actually dreadful to see smoke pouring coming from wounds in your very own country coming from such an awesome vantage point. The duality of getting on a space probe dedicated to improving live on the planet and enjoying life being actually damaged by such unforced, horrendous process is actually jolting to the mind, no matter who you are. And the expertise that every thing will certainly be various than when we introduced by the opportunity we land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our leadership that our company will definitely carry out every little thing possible to better guard her and also our family members, and to deliver compensation for what has actually been actually done. I possess self-confidence that the really good individuals at NASA will definitely perform whatever necessary to proceed our mission safely and return us carefully at the right time. And also I miss all of you quite. I can't be there with you face to face, and our company have a long way to visit complete our mission, however be certain that my soul is along with you, as well as understand you remain in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final character ... The good news is, it's been an active full week up right here. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, we are actually continuing on our designated course with business customarily (as long as feasible). Tonight the latest enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Area will be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (US time), it will definitely dock with our company, at a slot never ever utilized prior to on the low point edge of the Solution Module. This new element is going to provide us yet another place to dock an Improvement or even Soyuz and will definitely offer a sizable airlock with 2 useable hatches for administering EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our company are going to do a few of just before our experts return.The complication prior to in handling today was actually too little updates. The trouble now is actually too much. It came simultaneously when e-mail was actually restored, and also there's insufficient opportunity to review everything! Plus it is actually as well tough to deal with all of it at the same time. But I value acquiring it, and also I really enjoy the excellent characters of assistance and friendship I am getting.Our company are actually prospering aboard, receiving our job carried out, and also talking about points. Final evening our team possessed a lengthy dialogue over supper regarding the importance of these events, the feasible activities to observe, and what need to be actually done. After dinner, Michael resolved telling me that every e-mail he got coming from good friends in Russia claimed especially to tell me exactly how sorry they were actually that this taken place, extending their acknowledgements, and also talking to just how I was carrying out. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Area. (Both the Russian and also the English words are actually a lot extremely lengthy to pronounce effortlessly.) Incredibly types individuals.For the final pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transmit real-time shows of broadcast news about the activity and also connected accounts, to be sure I was actually effectively informed. Every specialist who has started free throw line to discuss a method or even a concern has at some point extended hellos to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our team that as a result of the wedding day of recognition in the US, throughout the day people had been carrying flowers and also edging all the walls of the United States embassy in Moscow, and also this night they were actually lighting candle lights in the road outside the consular office. Exactly how the globe has transformed.People all over seem to be to realize the senselessness and scary within this attack. And also the enormous loss. Moscow has actually dealt with these type of troubles in the last few years along with apartment or condo and also subway battles, so they are actually as troubled to get rid of this danger as our experts are actually. Yet all-time low series is that there are actually really good folks almost everywhere who want to stay in peace. I go through that a little one asked, "America is actually therefore good to other nations, our team always aid every person, just how can they loathe us so much?".I wish the example of cooperation as well as trust fund that this spacecraft plus all people in the system display daily are going to one day motivate the rest of the globe to function similarly. They must!Regrettably, we won't be flighting over the US during the time people are actually lighting candle lights. Do not recognize if our experts can view that anyway. Our team performed, nevertheless, view a very uncommon and beautiful view a handful of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were overtaking it as well as it emerged regarding 3 mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunshine reached our station, so it was actually still unaware. It resembled a big comet along with a straight, vast tail silhouetted versus the black earth below. In spite of some bad illumination for a while as the sun struck our home window at a reduced viewpoint, I managed some online video of it as initially we passed the rocket, and afterwards watched it begin to mesmerize as it gained altitude and speed. I shot till main motor deadline and also booster separation took place just as we moved toward dawn on the Himalayas. An unforgettable sight in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle goes on, even in space. Our company are actually here to keep ... Frank.