.Editor's Note: The adhering to is the content of a character from Exploration 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reflecting on the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed quite concerning specifics of this particular purpose during the month I have actually been actually listed below, mostly for pair of causes: the first being actually that there has been really little bit of time to do that type of writing, and also also given that I am actually not sure how comfy I am discussing ideas I show to family and friends along with the rest of the globe.Properly, definitely the world transformed today. What I say or perform is really slight reviewed to the implication of what happened to our country today when it was assaulted through ... by whom? Terrorists is all we understand, I guess. Challenging to recognize at whom to direct our temper and fear ...I had only completed an amount of jobs today, one of the most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all crew members. In a private talk following that, the air travel specialist told me they were actually possessing an extremely poor day on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He illustrated the situation to me as ideal he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was astonished, at that point terrified. My first notion was that this had not been a genuine chat, that I was still paying attention to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It simply failed to appear feasible on this incrustation in our nation. I could not even picture the details, even prior to the headlines of further damage began coming in.Vladimir came rather rapidly, noticing that one thing incredibly serious was actually being actually reviewed. I swung Michael in to the component too. They were actually likewise astounded and also stunned. After our experts authorized off, I made an effort to reveal to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I could possibly the possible enormity of this particular act of terror in midtown New york and at the Pentagon. They plainly recognized as well as were actually extremely considerate.I browsed the Globe Map on the personal computer to see where over the world our experts were actually and observed that our team were happening southeast out of Canada and would be actually skipping New England in a few moments. I whized around the terminal up until I found a window that would certainly provide me a view of New York City and also nabbed the local camera. It took place to become a video camera, as well as I was looking southern coming from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke appeared to have a weird flower to it at the bottom of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the area. After reading among the news articles our company only got, I believe our team were looking at NY around the amount of time of, or quickly after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. How dreadful ...I swept the camera the whole time the East Coastline to the south to observe if I could view some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, but absolutely nothing was visible.It was actually fairly complicated to consider work after that, though our team had some to carry out, yet on the following track our experts moved across the United States additional southern. All three people were working one or two cameras to make an effort to obtain perspectives of New York or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no specific resource may be observed. All of it looked unbelievable from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can't picture the tragic settings on the ground.Other than the mental impact of our country being dealt with and lots of our citizens and also perhaps some pals being actually gotten rid of, the absolute most difficult emotion being where I am is among solitude.Next day ... I suppose the tiredness and also mental tension obtained the most effective of me. I could not remain awake and also remain to create. Today was still hard, however our team began acquiring more information, plus our company possessed the honor of speaking directly with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that ensured our team that the ground groups will continue to function and also ensure our security, as well as the safe procedure of the Place. Our experts likewise spoke with our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that included that the companions in the System are all completely dedicated to carrying on safe procedures and help. These were never ever concerns for me. I recognize all these folks! The ground groups have been astonishingly supportive, very understanding of the effect of the updates, and also have attempted to become as handy as achievable. They have all been actually extremely qualified as well as focused though I can not think of the disturbance of this particular sort of information being available in and the notion that authorities structures may be in danger. They certainly never skipped a beat, also when transferring nerve center. As well as a group of senior workers and good friends offered our company a quite comprehensive rundown about what was actually known as well as what was being actually performed in the government as well as at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was very helpful and also type of all of them to accomplish in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually also been helpful and helpful, making an effort to uplink news articles when our own properties were unusable, and also saying kind phrases ...My crewmates have actually been wonderful, as well. They recognize it is actually been a hard day for me as well as the individuals on the ground, and also they have actually attempted to be as also keeled and also handy as feasible. Michael even corrected me my favorite Borscht soup for supper. And also they give me loads of room to presume when I needed it. They are actually very understanding and also of course shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I recognize numerous individuals in Washington, plenty of people that take a trip to DC and New York City, plenty of that are actually aviators, that I really felt sure I would get a minimum of a few parts of bad news over the next handful of days. I got the very first one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that reached the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I met Chic in the course of cadet summer season when our team remained in the D&B together, and our team had considerable amounts of courses all together. I can't imagine what he should of looked at, and also currently I listen to that he may have increased better than our company can easily also think of by potentially avoiding his airplane from being the one to attack the White Home. What an awful loss, yet I make certain Chic was actually combating bravely throughout. As well as splits don't circulate the same precede ...It's hard to explain exactly how it experiences to become the only United States fully off the world each time like this. The sensation that I must exist with all of you, dealing with this, assisting somehow, is mind-boggling. I know that our company get on the limit (or even beyond) of a dreadful switch in the past of the world. Numerous traits will certainly certainly never coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the thousands and thousands of people directly had an effect on through these hideous actions of violence, but probably for everyone. Our company will certainly discover our own selves experiencing in a different way regarding dozens of things, featuring probably area exploration, however.It is actually horrible to observe smoke cigarettes pouring coming from wounds in your very own nation from such a superb perspective. The duality of getting on a space probe committed to boosting life on the earth as well as watching life being actually damaged through such willful, horrible actions is actually jolting to the subconscious, despite that you are actually. As well as the know-how that everything will definitely be actually various than when our team launched by the time our company land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our nation and also in our leadership that we will definitely perform every little thing feasible to better protect her as well as our loved ones, and also to deliver justice of what has actually been carried out. I possess peace of mind that the great individuals at NASA are going to perform everything essential to continue our goal safely and securely as well as return our company securely at the right time. As well as I miss out on all of you quite. I can not exist along with you face to face, as well as our experts possess a very long way to head to finish our goal, however be certain that my soul is along with you, and know you are in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... Thankfully, it's been actually a hectic week up here. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, we are actually advancing our desired road along with organization as usual (as high as possible). Tonight the most recent add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment will definitely be actually launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States time), it is going to dock with our company, at a slot certainly never utilized before on the nadir side of the Company Component. This new component will definitely provide our team one more location to dock an Improvement or even Soyuz and also will supply a huge airlock with pair of able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our company will certainly carry out a few of just before our team get back.The concern just before in managing today was inadequate information. The complication right now is way too much. It came at one time when email was restored, and there is actually not nearly enough time to read everything! Plus it is actually as well tough to manage all of it immediately. But I appreciate getting it, as well as I really enjoy the wonderful letters of assistance as well as companionship I am acquiring.Our team are prospering on board, getting our work carried out, and also talking about points. Final evening our experts possessed a lengthy discussion over supper concerning the importance of these events, the feasible actions to comply with, and also what ought to be done. After dinner, Michael resolved informing me that every email he got from good friends in Russia mentioned primarily to tell me just how regretful they were actually that this occurred, stretching their acknowledgements, and asking exactly how I was performing. Vladimir educated me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian and also the English terms are actually considerably very long to verbalize easily.) Quite kind folks.For the last two times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to transfer online shows of radio information regarding the celebration and also linked tales, to see to it I was well educated. Every professional that has actually started free throw line to go over a technique or a concern has at some aspect extended hellos to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that due to the big day of recognition in the US, throughout the day people had actually been actually bringing blooms as well as edging all the walls of the US embassy in Moscow, as well as this night they were igniting candles in the street outside the consulate. How the globe has actually altered.People everywhere seem to be to acknowledge the senselessness as well as horror within this attack. And the enormous reduction. Moscow has actually managed these kind of issues in the final few years with apartment as well as train bombings, so they are actually as nervous to do away with this hazard as we are. However all-time low product line is that there are good folks anywhere who intend to live in peace. I go through that a little one asked, "United States is thus good to other nations, we always aid everyone, just how can they despise our team so much?".I hope the example of cooperation and also trust that this spacecraft and all people in the course demonstrate daily will someday motivate the rest of the globe to operate similarly. They must!Sadly, our team won't be actually flighting over the United States during the time individuals are lighting candles. Do not recognize if our team might see that anyway. We carried out, nonetheless, see a really unusual as well as attractive view a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were actually surpassing it and it came into view concerning three mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sunlight reached our station, so it was actually still unaware. It seemed like a large comet along with a right, vast tail silhouetted versus the dark earth below. Regardless of some negative lighting for some time as the sunshine hit our home window at a reduced position, I managed some video of it as to begin with our team passed the spacecraft, and then enjoyed it begin to mesmerize as it gained height and also velocity. I shot up until major engine cutoff as well as enhancer separation took place just like our team came close to dawn on the Mountain ranges. An extraordinary view in a remarkable full week ...Lifestyle goes on, also in space. Our team are actually below to remain ... Frank.