.Editor's Details: The following is the content of a letter from Exploration Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reflecting on the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed very much about specifics of this purpose during the month I have actually been actually right here, generally for two main reasons: the initial being that there has actually been incredibly little bit of opportunity to carry out that sort of writing, and secondly since I'm uncertain how comfortable I am actually discussing thought and feelings I show to family and friends along with the remainder of the globe.Properly, obviously the planet changed today. What I claim or do is really small matched up to the significance of what took place to our country today when it was actually attacked by ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we understand, I suspect. Difficult to understand at whom to direct our anger and worry ...I had merely completed a lot of activities today, the best time-consuming being actually the physical examinations of all crew members. In a personal discussion complying with that, the air travel surgeon informed me they were actually possessing a quite bad time on the ground. I possessed no idea ...He defined the circumstance to me as absolute best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was dumbfounded, at that point horrified. My initial thought was that this had not been a real conversation, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It simply really did not appear possible on this scale in our country. I could not also visualize the details, even prior to the information of additional destruction began can be found in.Vladimir came over rather swiftly, sensing that one thing incredibly serious was actually being covered. I swung Michael in to the component too. They were also astounded and stunned. After we signed off, I tried to reveal to Vladimir as well as Michael as ideal I could possibly the prospective immensity of this particular show of terror in midtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They accurately understood as well as were actually really understanding.I glanced at the World Chart on the computer to observe where over the planet our team were actually as well as noticed that our experts were actually happening southeast out of Canada and will be actually skipping New England in a handful of minutes. I whized around the station up until I discovered a home window that would offer me a viewpoint of New York City and got hold of the nearby cam. It took place to be a camera, and I was appearing southern coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes appeared to possess an odd bloom to it at the foundation of the column that was actually streaming south of the area. After reading through one of the news articles our company simply acquired, I believe our team were actually looking at NY around the amount of time of, or soon after, the crash of the second high rise. How terrible ...I swung the video camera during the East Shoreline to the south to find if I could see some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, however absolutely nothing was visible.It was fairly tough to think of work after that, though we possessed some to carry out, yet on the upcoming orbit our experts went across the US more southern. All three of us were actually working a couple of cameras to attempt to obtain viewpoints of Nyc or Washington. There was fog over Washington, but no particular source can be viewed. All of it appeared awesome coming from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can't picture the terrible settings on the ground.Besides the emotional effect of our country being actually tackled and countless our residents and also maybe some pals being actually killed, the most difficult feeling being where I am actually is among isolation.Upcoming time ... I suspect the fatigue and psychological stress acquired the most ideal of me. I could not stay awake as well as continue to create. Today was still hard, yet our experts began obtaining additional details, plus our experts possessed the honor of speaking directly with the Center Director, Roy Estess, who assured our team that the ground teams would continue to function and also ensure our safety, along with the safe procedure of the Place. Our company likewise heard from our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who included that the partners in the Course are all absolutely committed to carrying on risk-free functions and also assistance. These were actually never questions for me. I know all these folks! The ground staffs have actually been exceptionally supporting, very understanding of the influence of the news, and have actually attempted to be as handy as feasible. They have all been actually extremely expert as well as centered though I can not visualize the diversion of the type of headlines being available in and also the thought and feelings that government buildings could be vulnerable. They never ever skipped a beat, also when transferring control centers. As well as a group of senior personnel as well as close friends provided our team a rather in depth briefing on what was understood and what was being performed in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually extremely practical and sort of them to do in the middle of all the distress. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually encouraging and also useful, trying to uplink news articles when our own possessions were inoperable, as well as saying kind phrases ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, as well. They understand it's been a difficult day for me and also the folks on the ground, as well as they've attempted to be as also keeled and also practical as feasible. Michael even fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they offer me a lot of space to think when I needed it. They are actually quite sympathetic and also certainly shocked at whoever will do this.I understand plenty of individuals in Washington, numerous folks who take a trip to DC and NYC, numerous who are aviators, that I experienced sure I will get at least a handful of pieces of trouble over the following handful of days. I received the 1st one today when I discovered that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that struck the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I met Chic during plebe summer months when our experts were in the D&B with each other, as well as our company had bunches of training class with each other. I can't envision what he has to of looked at, and currently I listen to that he might have climbed even further than our experts can easily also think about by possibly stopping his plane coming from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a horrendous reduction, yet I ensure Chic was actually combating fearlessly to the end. And also splits don't stream the exact same precede ...It is actually difficult to define how it really feels to become the only United States fully off the earth each time such as this. The emotion that I should be there with all of you, coping with this, assisting somehow, is actually mind-boggling. I recognize that we get on the limit (or even past) of a horrible switch in the past of the world. Many traits are going to never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Not just for the thousands and hundreds of individuals straight impacted through these horrendous acts of violence, however probably for everyone. Our team will locate our own selves really feeling in different ways about dozens of points, including perhaps room exploration, regrettably.It is actually horrendous to observe smoke pouring coming from wounds in your own country from such an excellent vantage point. The duality of performing a space capsule devoted to boosting daily life on the planet and also enjoying life being actually ruined through such conscious, horrible actions is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of that you are. As well as the expertise that everything will certainly be actually various than when we released due to the time our team land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our country as well as in our management that our team are going to carry out everything achievable to far better safeguard her and also our family members, and also to take justice of what has been carried out. I have assurance that the really good people at NASA are going to do every little thing necessary to continue our objective properly and return our company safely at the right time. And I overlook each one of you very much. I can't be there with you personally, as well as we have a long way to head to complete our objective, but be actually particular that my heart is along with you, and also know you remain in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last letter ... The good news is, it is actually been actually a busy week up right here. And to verify that, like our country, our company are continuing on our intended path along with company customarily (as long as feasible). Tonight the current add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment will be actually launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday evening (United States time), it will definitely dock with our company, at a port certainly never made use of prior to on the nadir side of the Service Component. This new element is going to offer our team one more place to dock an Improvement or even Soyuz and will definitely offer a large airlock along with 2 able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our company will certainly perform a few of before our team get home.The trouble before in managing today was too little updates. The concern right now is excessive. It came all at once when email was rejuvenated, and there's not nearly enough opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's too hard to cope with all of it immediately. Yet I value obtaining it, as well as I definitely appreciate the great letters of support and relationship I am getting.We are actually flourishing aboard, getting our work done, and also discussing traits. Last evening our company had a lengthy conversation over dinner about the value of these events, the achievable activities to comply with, and also what should be carried out. After supper, Michael resolved telling me that every email he obtained coming from buddies in Russia claimed exclusively to inform me how sorry they were actually that this occurred, stretching their condolences, and talking to exactly how I was actually performing. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after consulting with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually a lot extremely lengthy to pronounce conveniently.) Quite kind individuals.For the last pair of days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit live shows of broadcast information regarding the event and linked tales, to make sure I was actually properly informed. Every expert that has started free throw line to discuss a method or a trouble has at some factor expanded greetings to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our team that due to the wedding day of recognition in the US, throughout the day folks had actually been carrying florals and also edging all the wall surfaces of the US embassy in Moscow, and this evening they were igniting candlesticks in the road outside the consulate. How the planet has actually changed.People all over appear to acknowledge the senselessness and scary in this particular strike. As well as the significant loss. Moscow has actually handled these type of concerns in the final couple of years with home as well as metro battles, so they are actually as nervous to do away with this risk as we are. However the bottom collection is actually that there are great individuals all over who would like to live in calmness. I check out that a kid inquired, "America is actually so excellent to various other nations, our experts constantly assist every person, just how can they dislike us so much?".I wish the instance of collaboration and depend on that this space probe plus all people in the program demonstrate daily are going to sooner or later influence the remainder of the globe to function the same way. They must!However, our company will not be flying over the United States during the time people are igniting candle lights. Do not know if we could possibly find that anyway. We carried out, nonetheless, view a quite unusual and beautiful view a handful of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were actually eclipsing it and it appeared about three minutes after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine attacked our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It looked like a huge comet along with a directly, large rear silhouetted versus the darker earth under. Even with some poor illumination for a while as the sunlight reached our window at a low position, I dealt with some video recording of it as initially our experts passed the rocket, and after that enjoyed it start to catch up as it gained elevation as well as velocity. I recorded till major engine deadline and enhancer splitting up took place just as our experts approached dawn on the Himalayas. A memorable attraction in an unforgettable week ...Life goes on, even in space. We're listed here to stay ... Frank.