.Publisher's Details: The following is the text message of a character from Expedition 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), assessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not written significantly concerning specifics of this particular purpose during the month I've been here, primarily for 2 reasons: the initial being actually that there has been very little bit of time to accomplish that type of creating, and also furthermore, due to the fact that I am actually unsure just how relaxed I am actually discussing thought and feelings I share with friends and family with the rest of the globe.Well, obviously the world altered today. What I point out or even perform is very minor contrasted to the significance of what happened to our nation today when it was actually struck through ... by whom? Terrorists is actually all we understand, I suppose. Hard to understand at whom to drive our rage and also fear ...I had actually only ended up a number of duties this morning, the absolute most lengthy being actually the physical exams of all team participants. In an exclusive chat following that, the flight plastic surgeon told me they were possessing a very poor day on the ground. I had no tip ...He illustrated the scenario to me as finest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was amazed, then alarmed. My first thought was that this wasn't a true talk, that I was actually still listening closely to some of my Tom Clancy strips. It simply failed to seem achievable on this incrustation in our country. I could not even picture the details, also just before the news of further damage started can be found in.Vladimir came over pretty swiftly, sensing that one thing incredibly significant was being covered. I swayed Michael in to the module as well. They were actually additionally impressed as well as stunned. After we authorized off, I made an effort to detail to Vladimir and also Michael as greatest I could possibly the prospective enormity of this particular act of horror in downtown New york and also at the Government. They plainly comprehended and were actually really considerate.I browsed the Planet Map on the computer to find where over the world our company were as well as observed that our experts were coming southeast out of Canada and also would be actually overlooking New England in a handful of moments. I whized around the terminal until I located a window that will offer me a viewpoint of New York City as well as ordered the closest electronic camera. It happened to be a camera, and I was actually appearing south from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke seemed to possess an odd bloom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the city. After reviewing among the newspaper article our experts merely received, I feel our experts were considering NY around the moment of, or even quickly after, the crash of the second high rise. Exactly how horrendous ...I scanned the camera during the East Coast to the south to see if I could observe every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was actually fairly difficult to think of work after that, though our experts possessed some to accomplish, however on the upcoming orbit our team went across the US additional southern. All three of us were actually operating a couple of electronic cameras to try to get views of New York or even Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, however no specific resource can be observed. Everything looked fabulous coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can not imagine the terrible settings on the ground.Apart from the psychological effect of our country being actually dealt with as well as hundreds of our residents as well as possibly some good friends being actually killed, the absolute most mind-boggling emotion being where I am is just one of seclusion.Next time ... I suppose the fatigue and also psychological stress got the most ideal of me. I could not remain awake as well as continue to write. Today was actually still tough, but our company started acquiring more information, plus our experts possessed the respect of speaking directly along with the Facility Supervisor, Roy Estess, that ensured us that the ground crews would certainly remain to function and also guarantee our safety and security, and also the safe operation of the Station. We also heard from our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that added that the partners in the Course are all entirely committed to carrying on risk-free functions and support. These were actually never questions for me. I recognize all these individuals! The ground groups have been exceptionally encouraging, quite understanding of the influence of the updates, as well as have actually made an effort to be as beneficial as possible. They have all been very specialist as well as centered though I can't imagine the disturbance of the kind of headlines being available in as well as the idea that federal government buildings could be at risk. They never ever avoided a beat, also when transferring control centers. And also a group of senior personnel as well as friends offered our company a quite extensive rundown about what was understood and what was actually being actually done in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was actually incredibly helpful and type of them to accomplish in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually helpful as well as beneficial, trying to uplink news articles when our own properties were inoperable, and also mentioning kind phrases ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, too. They recognize it's been a hard time for me as well as the individuals on the ground, and they have actually made an effort to become as also keeled and also practical as possible. Michael also corrected me my favored Borscht soup for supper. As well as they give me plenty of space to assume when I needed it. They are very considerate and also of course outraged at whoever would certainly do this.I know plenty of individuals in Washington, plenty of individuals who take a trip to DC as well as New York City, so many who are aviators, that I felt sure I would certainly obtain a minimum of a couple of parts of problem over the upcoming couple of days. I got the first one today when I knew that the Captain of the American Airlines plane that hit the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I met Chic throughout plebe summertime when our team resided in the D&B together, and also our company had considerable amounts of courses with each other. I can't visualize what he should of experienced, and also currently I listen to that he may have risen further than our experts can easily even consider by potentially preventing his airplane coming from being actually the one to attack the White Residence. What a horrendous reduction, yet I make sure Chic was dealing with bravely to the end. As well as rips do not circulate the very same precede ...It is actually complicated to define just how it feels to become the only United States fully off the world each time like this. The emotion that I ought to be there along with all of you, dealing with this, helping somehow, is overwhelming. I understand that our experts perform the threshold (or past) of a dreadful change in the record of the planet. Many traits will certainly never be the same once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the 1000s as well as 1000s of individuals directly influenced through these horrendous process of terrorism, yet most likely for all of us. Our company will certainly find ourselves feeling in a different way about lots of factors, featuring probably area expedition, unfortunately.It is actually horrendous to find smoke pouring from injuries in your personal country from such an awesome viewpoint. The dichotomy of getting on a space probe devoted to improving everyday life on the planet as well as checking out life being ruined through such witting, terrible actions is jolting to the psyche, regardless of that you are. And the expertise that everything will definitely be actually different than when our company launched due to the opportunity our experts land is a little bit of disconcerting. I believe in our nation as well as in our leadership that our team will certainly perform every thing achievable to better safeguard her and our households, and to take compensation for what has been actually carried out. I possess peace of mind that the great individuals at NASA will certainly perform every little thing needed to proceed our purpose safely and securely and return us carefully at the correct time. And I overlook all of you quite. I can not exist along with you in person, and our experts have a very long way to go to accomplish our objective, but be specific that my heart is actually along with you, and also recognize you are in my requests.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final character ... Thankfully, it is actually been actually a hectic week up right here. As well as to confirm that, like our country, our experts are actually advancing our designated pathway along with business as usual (as much as feasible). Tonight the most recent enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Compartment will definitely be actually introduced from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (US opportunity), it will dock along with us, at a slot never ever used before on the low point side of the Solution Module. This brand-new element will provide us yet another spot to dock a Progress or Soyuz and are going to offer a sizable airlock with 2 able to be used hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which we will certainly do a few of just before our experts get home.The trouble just before in dealing with recently was actually inadequate information. The concern right now is a lot of. It came at one time when email was repaired, and also there's not nearly enough time to review it all! Plus it's also tough to deal with all of it instantly. But I enjoy acquiring it, and also I actually cherish the terrific characters of support as well as companionship I am getting.Our team are actually succeeding aboard, getting our job done, and also referring to traits. Last evening our experts possessed a long dialogue over dinner concerning the value of these occasions, the achievable activities to observe, and also what should be performed. After supper, Michael resolved informing me that every email he acquired coming from buddies in Russia pointed out primarily to inform me how regretful they were actually that this occurred, prolonging their condolences, and also talking to just how I was actually performing. Vladimir educated me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are actually much too lengthy to pronounce quickly.) Quite types individuals.For the last 2 days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to broadcast real-time shows of broadcast information about the event and also connected accounts, to make sure I was actually effectively informed. Every professional that has started free throw line to discuss a procedure or a complication contends some factor stretched introductions to me with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that due to the big day of recognition in the US, all day people had been actually taking blooms as well as edging all the wall structures of the US embassy in Moscow, as well as this evening they were actually lighting candlesticks in the road outside the consulate. Exactly how the planet has modified.Folks all over seem to acknowledge the senselessness and also scary in this particular strike. And the enormous reduction. Moscow has actually handled these kind of complications in the final handful of years along with apartment or condo as well as train battles, so they are actually as anxious to remove this threat as our team are. But the bottom product line is actually that there are actually good folks almost everywhere who want to stay in calmness. I review that a little one talked to, "America is actually therefore good to various other nations, our team regularly help everyone, just how can they hate our company so much?".I wish the example of collaboration and also trust that this space capsule plus all the people in the system display daily are going to sooner or later encourage the rest of the world to function the same way. They must!Regrettably, our team will not be flighting over the US while people are lighting candlesticks. Don't know if our team can find that anyway. We carried out, nevertheless, observe a very unusual as well as attractive attraction a couple of minutes ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. We were surpassing it as well as it came into view regarding 3 mins after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunlight struck our terminal, so it was actually still unaware. It resembled a large comet with a right, vast tail silhouetted versus the dark earth underneath. Despite some bad lighting fixtures for a while as the sunlight hit our window at a low angle, I dealt with some video clip of it as initially our experts passed the rocket, and afterwards watched it begin to catch up as it got height and also speed. I recorded till major motor cutoff and also enhancer separation occurred just like we came close to daybreak on the Himalayas. A memorable attraction in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle happens, even precede. We are actually here to keep ... Frank.