.Editor's Keep in mind: The following is actually the message of a letter coming from Expedition Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), assessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created significantly about specifics of the mission during the month I've been actually listed below, primarily for 2 factors: the initial being that there has been incredibly little opportunity to accomplish that sort of writing, and also the second thing is due to the fact that I'm not sure just how comfortable I am actually discussing thought and feelings I provide friends and family along with the rest of the globe.Well, definitely the globe modified today. What I point out or even do is actually quite slight matched up to the significance of what took place to our nation today when it was assaulted by ... by whom? Terrorists is actually all we know, I reckon. Challenging to recognize at whom to drive our anger and worry ...I had actually just ended up a number of jobs today, the absolute most time-consuming being actually the physical examinations of all staff participants. In a personal chat adhering to that, the flight surgeon informed me they were actually possessing an extremely negative day on the ground. I possessed no idea ...He defined the condition to me as absolute best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually made speechless, after that alarmed. My initial notion was that this had not been a genuine discussion, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely really did not seem achievable on this scale in our country. I couldn't even imagine the particulars, even just before the information of more damage started being available in.Vladimir came quite quickly, sensing that one thing incredibly significant was actually being actually explained. I waved Michael into the module too. They were likewise impressed and stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to clarify to Vladimir as well as Michael as finest I could possibly the prospective magnitude of this show of terror in downtown New york as well as at the Pentagon. They clearly understood and were quite supportive.I browsed the World Map on the personal computer to find where over the planet our experts were as well as noticed that our company were coming southeast away from Canada and also will be actually overlooking New England in a handful of moments. I zoomed around the station till I found a window that would provide me a sight of NYC and also nabbed the local video camera. It occurred to be a video camera, and I was appearing southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to be to possess a strange flower to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the area. After going through among the newspaper article our team only obtained, I believe our experts were actually looking at NY around the moment of, or not long after, the failure of the 2nd tower. How dreadful ...I swept the video camera all along the East Shoreline to the south to see if I can view any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, however nothing at all showed up.It was actually quite difficult to think of work afterwards, though our company possessed some to do, however on the next track we moved across the US more south. All three people were functioning a couple of cams to make an effort to receive sights of Nyc or even Washington. There was haze over Washington, yet no specific resource may be viewed. Everything appeared astonishing coming from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can't visualize the awful settings on the ground.Apart from the mental influence of our nation being tackled and also hundreds of our people and maybe some pals being actually eliminated, the best difficult feeling being where I am actually is among solitude.Following time ... I reckon the tiredness and emotional tension received the greatest of me. I could not stay awake and also remain to compose. Today was still hard, however we started acquiring more relevant information, plus our experts had the respect of speaking straight along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground crews would remain to function and also guarantee our security, along with the safe procedure of the Station. Our experts likewise learnt through our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the partners in the Plan are actually all completely committed to proceeding safe procedures and also support. These were certainly never questions for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground crews have been actually exceptionally helpful, incredibly understanding of the impact of the news, and also have actually made an effort to become as useful as possible. They have actually all been actually quite qualified as well as centered though I can not imagine the disturbance of this particular type of news being available in and also the thought that authorities structures might be in danger. They never missed a beat, even when transferring control centers. And also a team of elderly workers and also pals gave our team a rather comprehensive instruction on what was recognized and what was actually being actually performed in the authorities and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually incredibly helpful and also type of them to perform in the midst of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually helpful and also valuable, making an effort to uplink news articles when our own assets were actually unusable, as well as saying kind terms ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, as well. They know it's been actually a challenging time for me and the people on the ground, as well as they have actually attempted to become as even keeled as well as handy as feasible. Michael also corrected me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they provide me a lot of room to think when I needed it. They are actually very understanding as well as certainly shocked at whoever will do this.I recognize plenty of people in Washington, plenty of individuals that travel to DC and New York City, plenty of who are captains, that I felt certain I would certainly acquire at the very least a couple of parts of trouble over the following couple of times. I acquired the first one today when I discovered that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I encountered Chic in the course of cadet summertime when our experts were in the D&B with each other, and we possessed great deals of lessons all together. I can't picture what he must of experienced, as well as now I hear that he may have climbed even more than our company can also think of by probably avoiding his airplane coming from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a dreadful reduction, yet I'm sure Chic was actually battling bravely to the end. And also tears do not move the very same in space ...It's complicated to illustrate just how it feels to become the only American completely off the planet each time including this. The feeling that I need to exist along with each one of you, taking care of this, assisting somehow, is actually overwhelming. I know that our team get on the limit (or even past) of an awful shift in the record of the world. A lot of traits will certainly never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not simply for the thousands and also hundreds of individuals directly had an effect on by these horrible actions of terrorism, yet most likely for we all. Our experts are going to locate our own selves feeling differently concerning dozens of things, featuring possibly area expedition, however.It's horrible to see smoke pouring coming from injuries in your very own nation from such an amazing angle. The dichotomy of getting on a space probe committed to boosting life on the planet and watching lifestyle being damaged by such unforced, dreadful acts is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of that you are. And also the knowledge that everything will be actually different than when our team launched due to the opportunity our team land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our management that our experts will do every little thing feasible to far better guard her and our family members, and to deliver justice of what has actually been actually done. I possess confidence that the good people at NASA will definitely perform whatever required to proceed our mission carefully as well as return our team carefully at the correct time. As well as I skip each one of you significantly. I can't be there with you in person, and also we possess a very long way to go to finish our purpose, yet be actually specific that my heart is with you, as well as recognize you reside in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final letter ... The good news is, it is actually been an active full week up here. And to verify that, like our nation, we are actually continuing on our desired pathway along with service as usual (as much as feasible). Tonight the current add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will be introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States opportunity), it will definitely dock with our company, at a slot never used before on the nadir side of the Solution Module. This new module will certainly offer our team one more spot to dock an Improvement or Soyuz and also will definitely deliver a sizable airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan satisfies, which our team will certainly carry out a few of just before our team get back.The concern prior to in coping with this week was inadequate updates. The issue today is too much. It arrived at one time when email was actually rejuvenated, as well as there is actually not nearly enough time to review it all! Plus it is actually as well hard to deal with all of it instantly. Yet I value receiving it, and I really cherish the fantastic characters of help and relationship I am receiving.Our company are flourishing on board, acquiring our job done, as well as referring to points. Final evening our team possessed a lengthy conversation over dinner about the value of these celebrations, the achievable activities to observe, and also what should be actually carried out. After supper, Michael challenged informing me that every email he acquired from good friends in Russia said particularly to tell me how regretful they were that this occurred, extending their acknowledgements, as well as asking how I was performing. Vladimir taught me the Russian term for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and also the English words are a lot very lengthy to verbalize quickly.) Really type folks.For the last 2 times, the Russian MCC has been good enough to transmit real-time broadcasts of radio news regarding the activity and also connected accounts, to be sure I was actually well educated. Every expert that has started free throw line to cover a technique or a problem has at some point extended introductions to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told us that as a result of the special day of recognition in the US, all day individuals had actually been actually bringing blossoms and also edging all the wall structures of the United States consular office in Moscow, and also this night they were actually igniting candlesticks in the street outside the consulate. How the world has actually altered.Individuals just about everywhere seem to be to realize the senselessness and horror in this particular attack. And also the incredible loss. Moscow has actually handled these kind of issues in the last few years with flat and subway bombings, so they are as anxious to eliminate this hazard as our team are. Yet all-time low product line is that there are great individuals anywhere who desire to stay in tranquility. I read through that a kid inquired, "United States is therefore great to other countries, we constantly aid everyone, how can they loathe our company so much?".I really hope the example of cooperation as well as trust that this spacecraft plus all people in the program show daily are going to one day motivate the rest of the planet to work similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our team will not be piloting over the United States during the time folks are lighting candles. Do not understand if we could observe that in any case. Our experts performed, however, find a really unique as well as attractive attraction a handful of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. Our team were overtaking it and it appeared about 3 mins after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our terminal, so it was actually still at night. It seemed like a large comet along with a straight, large tail silhouetted versus the darker earth under. Regardless of some bad lighting for a while as the sunshine attacked our window at a low viewpoint, I took care of some online video of it as first our team passed the rocket, and after that viewed it begin to mesmerize as it obtained altitude and rate. I filmed up until major engine deadline and enhancer splitting up took place equally as we moved toward daybreak on the Mountain ranges. A memorable attraction in an extraordinary week ...Life happens, also precede. Our team're listed here to stay ... Frank.