.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is actually the content of a character from Expedition 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), reviewing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed significantly regarding specifics of the goal during the course of the month I've been below, primarily for pair of main reasons: the initial being actually that there has been really little bit of opportunity to carry out that kind of composing, as well as the second thing is due to the fact that I'm not sure exactly how relaxed I am actually sharing thought and feelings I provide friends and family along with the rest of the world.Effectively, obviously the world changed today. What I say or even carry out is incredibly minor matched up to the implication of what happened to our country today when it was assaulted through ... through whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I guess. Hard to understand at whom to route our rage as well as anxiety ...I had merely completed an amount of duties today, the best time-consuming being actually the physical examinations of all workers members. In a personal conversation complying with that, the air travel plastic surgeon informed me they were having a very negative time on the ground. I possessed no idea ...He defined the scenario to me as best he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was amazed, after that horrified. My 1st notion was actually that this had not been a true conversation, that I was actually still listening to among my Tom Clancy strips. It only failed to seem to be feasible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even picture the details, also before the news of more destruction began coming in.Vladimir came over quite quickly, picking up that something very significant was being talked about. I swayed Michael in to the component as well. They were actually also astounded as well as stunned. After our company authorized off, I made an effort to discuss to Vladimir as well as Michael as finest I could possibly the prospective size of the act of fear in midtown Manhattan and at the Government. They accurately comprehended and were actually really supportive.I browsed the Planet Chart on the personal computer to see where over the world our experts were and also observed that we were coming southeast out of Canada and also would certainly be actually overlooking New England in a handful of mins. I whized around the terminal till I found a window that would certainly give me a perspective of NYC and nabbed the local cam. It happened to become a camera, and I was appearing south coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke seemed to have a strange flower to it at the foundation of the pillar that was streaming south of the urban area. After reviewing some of the news articles our company only received, I think we were actually examining NY around the amount of time of, or quickly after, the crash of the second high rise. How unpleasant ...I scanned the camera all along the East Coast to the south to view if I could possibly observe any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing showed up.It was quite difficult to think about work afterwards, though our experts possessed some to carry out, however on the following orbit our team went across the US further south. All 3 people were actually working a couple of cameras to make an effort to get sights of New York or Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no specific resource may be observed. All of it looked extraordinary coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not envision the terrible settings on the ground.Aside from the mental effect of our country being actually dealt with and 1000s of our residents and maybe some friends being gotten rid of, the best overwhelming feeling being where I am actually is among isolation.Next day ... I presume the fatigue as well as psychological strain obtained the best of me. I couldn't remain awake as well as continue to write. Today was still tough, yet we started getting more info, plus our experts had the honor of talking directly with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that ensured our team that the ground teams would continue to function and also guarantee our protection, and also the safe function of the Place. Our team likewise learnt through our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who added that the partners in the Plan are all totally dedicated to proceeding safe operations as well as support. These were actually never ever concerns for me. I recognize all these people! The ground staffs have actually been actually very supporting, quite understanding of the effect of the updates, and have actually made an effort to be as practical as feasible. They have actually all been quite qualified and centered though I can't picture the disturbance of this type of headlines coming in and the idea that federal government buildings might be vulnerable. They never missed a beat, even when transferring control centers. And a group of senior employees and also close friends provided us a quite complete rundown about what was actually known and what was actually being actually carried out in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually extremely useful as well as kind of them to perform in the middle of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has actually also been actually supportive and handy, trying to uplink newspaper article when our own properties were unusable, and stating kind words ...My crewmates have been excellent, also. They recognize it's been a tough time for me as well as the folks on the ground, and also they have actually made an effort to be as even keeled and also helpful as achievable. Michael also fixed me my favored Borscht soup for supper. And also they give me lots of space to believe when I required it. They are really supportive as well as naturally shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I know numerous individuals in Washington, plenty of folks who take a trip to DC and also New York City, plenty of who are actually pilots, that I felt sure I will get at the very least a few items of trouble over the following few times. I acquired the first one today when I learned that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that reached the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I came across Chic in the course of plebe summer when our team were in the D&B together, and also our company had lots of training class with each other. I can't envision what he must of gone through, and also currently I hear that he might have increased even more than our experts can even consider through probably avoiding his aircraft from being actually the one to attack the White Home. What a dreadful loss, yet I make sure Chic was actually battling fearlessly throughout. And also splits do not move the same in space ...It's hard to describe how it really feels to be the only United States entirely off the world at once including this. The feeling that I need to exist with all of you, dealing with this, assisting somehow, is actually mind-boggling. I understand that our company perform the threshold (or even beyond) of a terrible shift in the past history of the world. Numerous factors will never ever be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Not merely for the manies thousand as well as lots of folks straight impacted by these horrible process of terrorism, however probably for we all. Our experts are going to find ourselves experiencing in different ways concerning lots of factors, consisting of probably area exploration, unfortunately.It's awful to observe smoke cigarettes pouring coming from injuries in your personal country coming from such a wonderful vantage point. The dichotomy of getting on a spacecraft dedicated to boosting live on the earth and enjoying life being actually destroyed by such conscious, terrible acts is actually jolting to the subconscious, regardless of who you are actually. And the know-how that every thing are going to be various than when we launched by the time our company land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our nation and in our management that our team will certainly carry out every thing feasible to much better safeguard her as well as our loved ones, and also to carry compensation of what has been done. I possess assurance that the great folks at NASA will do whatever essential to proceed our goal properly as well as return us carefully at the right time. And also I skip each one of you significantly. I can not exist along with you in person, and also we have a long way to head to finish our mission, yet be actually specific that my heart is along with you, and recognize you remain in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final character ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually an occupied week up right here. And also to verify that, like our country, we are actually continuing our designated path along with service customarily (as long as achievable). Tonight the most recent add-on to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will definitely be introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States opportunity), it will definitely dock with our team, at a port never made use of just before on the nadir edge of the Company Element. This brand-new module will give our company an additional spot to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also will definitely provide a huge airlock with 2 useable hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our experts will perform a few of before we return.The issue just before in managing this week was insufficient news. The complication now is actually excessive. It arrived all at once when e-mail was recovered, and there is actually not enough opportunity to review all of it! Plus it's also tough to take care of all of it at the same time. However I appreciate acquiring it, and I definitely enjoy the great letters of help as well as companionship I am actually getting.Our experts are actually flourishing aboard, acquiring our job carried out, and speaking about factors. Last night our company had a lengthy dialogue over supper regarding the implication of these activities, the achievable actions to comply with, as well as what should be performed. After supper, Michael made a point of telling me that every e-mail he got coming from pals in Russia mentioned exclusively to tell me exactly how regretful they were actually that this occurred, stretching their acknowledgements, and talking to just how I was actually performing. Vladimir educated me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star City. (Both the Russian and the English words are actually considerably extremely long to verbalize effortlessly.) Quite kind folks.For the final two days, the Russian MCC has sufficed to send live programs of radio updates concerning the occasion and connected stories, to be sure I was actually effectively educated. Every specialist that has begun the line to go over a method or even a complication has at some aspect expanded greetings to me with kind terms. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that due to the special day of recognition in the US, all day folks had actually been actually bringing florals as well as lining all the walls of the US consular office in Moscow, and this night they were actually igniting candles in the street outside the consulate. Exactly how the planet has altered.Folks everywhere seem to acknowledge the senselessness and terror in this assault. And the incredible loss. Moscow has managed these type of issues in the last couple of years along with flat as well as train battles, so they are actually as anxious to get rid of this hazard as our company are. However all-time low collection is actually that there are actually excellent folks everywhere that intend to live in peace. I read through that a kid talked to, "United States is so really good to other nations, we regularly assist every person, just how can they detest our company a great deal?".I really hope the instance of participation and also trust fund that this space probe and all individuals in the course demonstrate daily are going to one day encourage the rest of the planet to work the same way. They must!Sadly, our experts will not be actually taking flight over the United States while individuals are lighting candle lights. Do not understand if our experts can find that in any case. Our company did, however, see an incredibly uncommon and beautiful attraction a handful of moments ago: the launch of our Docking Area on a Soyuz booster. Our experts were actually overtaking it as well as it came into view regarding 3 minutes after its own launch from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our terminal, so it was still at night. It resembled a sizable comet with a right, broad rear silhouetted against the darker earth under. Despite some bad illumination for a while as the sunlight attacked our home window at a reduced viewpoint, I handled some video clip of it as first our experts passed the rocket, and afterwards saw it start to mesmerize as it obtained height and also rate. I recorded up until main motor cutoff and also enhancer separation occurred just like we approached daybreak on the Himalayas. An unforgettable view in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle goes on, even in space. Our company're listed below to keep ... Frank.