.Publisher's Note: The following is the content of a character from Expedition Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), reviewing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not composed very much concerning specifics of this particular objective during the course of the month I've been below, generally for pair of main reasons: the first being actually that there has been really little time to accomplish that kind of writing, and also secondly due to the fact that I am actually unsure how relaxed I am actually discussing ideas I show friends and family along with the rest of the planet.Effectively, definitely the globe altered today. What I mention or do is incredibly slight reviewed to the significance of what happened to our country today when it was actually struck through ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suspect. Hard to know at whom to drive our rage and also concern ...I had just finished a variety of duties this morning, the absolute most time-consuming being actually the physical exams of all team participants. In a private chat complying with that, the tour doctor informed me they were possessing an incredibly bad time on the ground. I had no concept ...He defined the condition to me as finest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually flabbergasted, at that point frightened. My very first thought and feelings was actually that this had not been a true talk, that I was still listening to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It simply really did not seem feasible on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even visualize the particulars, even prior to the news of further damage started coming in.Vladimir came by pretty swiftly, noticing that one thing extremely significant was actually being actually reviewed. I swayed Michael right into the component too. They were likewise blown away and also stunned. After our team authorized off, I made an effort to explain to Vladimir and also Michael as best I might the possible measurement of the show of terror in downtown New york and at the Government. They precisely knew and were extremely sympathetic.I glanced at the Planet Chart on the computer system to find where over the globe we were and also observed that our company were happening southeast out of Canada and will be actually passing over New England in a handful of moments. I zoomed around the terminal up until I found a window that would give me a perspective of NYC and grabbed the closest camera. It happened to be a camera, and I was appearing southern from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to be to possess a strange flower to it at the base of the pillar that was actually streaming south of the area. After reading among the news articles we just received, I feel our experts were actually taking a look at NY around the moment of, or shortly after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. Just how terrible ...I swept the video camera all along the East Shoreline to the south to see if I could observe any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, but absolutely nothing was visible.It was pretty difficult to think about job afterwards, though our company had some to accomplish, but on the next track our company crossed the US additional south. All 3 people were operating one or two cameras to attempt to get views of Nyc or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no specific source could be found. Everything appeared fabulous coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not picture the unfortunate settings on the ground.Apart from the mental influence of our country being attacked and countless our citizens and also maybe some good friends being gotten rid of, the most difficult sensation being where I am is among solitude.Next time ... I guess the tiredness as well as emotional pressure acquired the very best of me. I could not remain awake and remain to create. Today was actually still hard, yet we started acquiring even more details, plus our company possessed the respect of talking straight with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, who guaranteed our company that the ground groups would continue to function as well as ensure our protection, in addition to the risk-free procedure of the Place. Our team likewise learnt through our Manager, Mr. Goldin, who included that the partners in the System are actually all absolutely committed to proceeding risk-free procedures as well as support. These were actually certainly never questions for me. I know all these individuals! The ground staffs have actually been actually extremely helpful, very understanding of the impact of the information, as well as have actually attempted to become as beneficial as achievable. They have actually all been very professional and concentrated though I can't think of the disturbance of the sort of information can be found in as well as the thought that authorities structures could be at risk. They never avoided a beat, even when relocating control centers. And a group of elderly staffs and pals provided us a pretty thorough briefing about what was understood and also what was being actually carried out in the authorities and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually very useful and type of them to perform in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually supporting as well as practical, attempting to uplink newspaper article when our own assets were inoperable, and also stating kind words ...My crewmates have been actually excellent, also. They understand it is actually been a tough day for me as well as the folks on the ground, and also they've attempted to be as also keeled as well as useful as feasible. Michael even repaired me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me lots of space to believe when I needed it. They are quite supportive as well as certainly outraged at whoever would do this.I understand numerous individuals in Washington, numerous people who travel to DC and also NYC, so many who are actually pilots, that I felt certain I would certainly obtain at least a couple of pieces of trouble over the following few times. I received the initial one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that hit the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I encountered Chic during the course of plebe summer season when our team were in the D&B together, and our team had considerable amounts of classes with each other. I can not envision what he needs to of looked at, as well as now I listen to that he might have climbed even more than we may even think of by possibly preventing his aircraft from being actually the one to deal with the White House. What a terrible loss, yet I ensure Chic was dealing with bravely throughout. And splits don't stream the very same in space ...It is actually challenging to explain just how it experiences to become the only United States fully off the planet each time including this. The sensation that I ought to exist with each one of you, coping with this, assisting in some way, is frustrating. I know that our team are on the threshold (or even past) of a horrendous switch in the record of the globe. Numerous points will definitely never ever be the same again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the thousands and thousands of people directly influenced by these horrendous acts of terrorism, but probably for everyone. Our company will locate ourselves experiencing in different ways regarding loads of traits, featuring possibly space expedition, sadly.It is actually dreadful to view smoke pouring coming from cuts in your personal nation coming from such a superb point of view. The dichotomy of getting on a spacecraft dedicated to enhancing everyday life on the earth and also watching lifestyle being damaged by such willful, terrible acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter that you are. And also the knowledge that everything will definitely be actually various than when we launched due to the opportunity our company land is a little bit of disconcerting. I have confidence in our nation as well as in our management that we are going to do every thing achievable to far better shield her and our loved ones, and also to carry fair treatment of what has actually been carried out. I have confidence that the really good folks at NASA will perform whatever essential to continue our purpose carefully and return our team securely at the correct time. And I miss out on all of you significantly. I can't be there with you face to face, and our company have a very long way to head to finish our goal, but be actually certain that my heart is along with you, as well as understand you are in my petitions.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last character ... The good news is, it's been a busy full week up here. As well as to confirm that, like our nation, our company are advancing our intended road along with service customarily (as much as possible). Tonight the most recent enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber are going to be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States opportunity), it is going to dock along with our company, at a slot never utilized before on the low point edge of the Company Module. This new module will definitely provide our team an additional area to dock a Progress or even Soyuz as well as are going to give a large airlock with two useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our experts will definitely carry out a few of prior to our company come home.The complication before in taking care of this week was actually too little news. The concern now is too much. It arrived all at once when email was actually brought back, and also there's not enough opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's as well tough to handle all of it immediately. But I appreciate receiving it, and also I truly enjoy the fantastic characters of support and also relationship I am getting.We are actually doing well aboard, receiving our work carried out, and also talking about traits. Final night we possessed a lengthy conversation over supper concerning the significance of these events, the achievable activities to adhere to, and what need to be actually done. After dinner, Michael made a point of telling me that every email he received coming from pals in Russia claimed primarily to tell me how sorry they were actually that this happened, expanding their acknowledgements, and also asking exactly how I was actually doing. Vladimir taught me the Russian term for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Metropolitan area. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually considerably very long to verbalize easily.) Really type individuals.For the last two days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to broadcast live programs of broadcast headlines concerning the activity as well as affiliated stories, to ensure I was actually well informed. Every professional who has actually started the line to discuss a method or a problem contends some aspect stretched greetings to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that due to the special day of remembrance in the United States, throughout the day people had been actually taking flowers and edging all the wall surfaces of the United States consulate in Moscow, and also this evening they were igniting candles in the road outside the consulate. Exactly how the planet has modified.People almost everywhere appear to identify the senselessness as well as horror in this particular assault. As well as the significant reduction. Moscow has coped with these kind of troubles in the final few years along with apartment as well as subway bombings, so they are actually as restless to do away with this threat as our company are. Yet the bottom collection is actually that there are actually excellent individuals everywhere who desire to reside in calmness. I review that a youngster inquired, "United States is actually therefore great to various other countries, our company consistently assist everybody, exactly how can they despise our company a lot?".I really hope the instance of cooperation and also count on that this spacecraft and all the people in the system demonstrate daily are going to one day inspire the rest of the planet to operate similarly. They must!However, we won't be actually flighting over the US while people are actually igniting candles. Don't recognize if our team could possibly view that anyway. Our team carried out, however, observe an incredibly unusual and stunning attraction a few minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. We were surpassing it as well as it appeared concerning three mins after its launch from Baikonur as the sun attacked our station, so it was still unaware. It appeared like a big comet along with a right, large rear silhouetted versus the black planet under. Regardless of some negative lighting fixtures for a while as the sunlight attacked our window at a reduced viewpoint, I took care of some video recording of it as to begin with our team passed the spacecraft, and afterwards enjoyed it begin to mesmerize as it gained height and also rate. I recorded until principal engine cutoff and booster splitting up developed just as our company approached daybreak on the Mountain ranges. A memorable sight in an extraordinary week ...Lifestyle takes place, even in space. Our company're listed here to remain ... Frank.