.Editor's Keep in mind: The adhering to is actually the text message of a character from Exploration 3 Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Resigned), reassessing the celebrations of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't written significantly about specifics of this goal during the month I've been actually listed below, generally for pair of main reasons: the initial being that there has been actually very little opportunity to perform that type of composing, as well as furthermore, due to the fact that I'm not exactly sure just how pleasant I am sharing ideas I show family and friends with the remainder of the planet.Effectively, certainly the planet changed today. What I point out or do is actually really small matched up to the implication of what took place to our country today when it was assaulted by ... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suppose. Hard to know at whom to direct our rage as well as worry ...I had simply ended up an amount of tasks this morning, one of the most taxing being actually the physical exams of all team participants. In a private talk adhering to that, the tour specialist told me they were actually possessing a really poor time on the ground. I possessed no suggestion ...He explained the scenario to me as ideal he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was made speechless, then alarmed. My very first idea was actually that this wasn't a true talk, that I was still listening to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely really did not appear achievable on this incrustation in our nation. I could not even think of the particulars, even just before the news of further devastation started being available in.Vladimir came rather swiftly, noticing that something incredibly significant was being gone over. I swung Michael into the element also. They were additionally amazed and also stunned. After we authorized off, I attempted to describe to Vladimir and also Michael as greatest I could possibly the possible measurement of the act of horror in midtown New york and also at the Pentagon. They clearly comprehended and were actually extremely supportive.I glanced at the Planet Chart on the personal computer to view where over the planet our team were actually and also discovered that our company were actually happening southeast away from Canada and also will be actually skipping New England in a few minutes. I zipped around the terminal till I located a home window that would give me a sight of New York City as well as ordered the nearest video camera. It occurred to be a video camera, as well as I was actually looking southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to be to have an odd flower to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the city. After reading some of the news articles we only got, I believe our company were considering NY around the time of, or even quickly after, the failure of the second high rise. How horrible ...I panned the electronic camera the whole time the East Coast to the south to observe if I could possibly find some other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet absolutely nothing showed up.It was actually fairly difficult to think of work after that, though our company had some to accomplish, but on the upcoming orbit we crossed the United States more southern. All 3 of us were operating a couple of video cameras to attempt to acquire viewpoints of The big apple or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, but no details source can be viewed. All of it looked astonishing coming from 2 to 3 hundred miles away. I can not imagine the terrible scenes on the ground.Aside from the emotional effect of our nation being actually tackled as well as countless our citizens as well as possibly some buddies being gotten rid of, the best mind-boggling sensation being where I am is just one of solitude.Upcoming day ... I suppose the tiredness and mental strain obtained the most ideal of me. I could not stay awake and also remain to create. Today was actually still complicated, yet our experts started getting more information, plus our company had the honor of chatting straight with the Center Director, Roy Estess, who ensured us that the ground groups would certainly remain to operate and guarantee our safety and security, in addition to the secure operation of the Place. Our team also heard from our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the partners in the Program are all completely committed to proceeding safe functions and help. These were actually never inquiries for me. I recognize all these people! The ground teams have been very encouraging, incredibly understanding of the effect of the updates, as well as have actually tried to become as beneficial as achievable. They have actually all been quite professional as well as centered though I can't visualize the interruption of the form of information being available in as well as the idea that federal government properties could be vulnerable. They never bypassed a beat, also when transferring control centers. As well as a group of senior personnel and also pals provided our team a fairly in depth rundown on what was actually recognized and what was actually being actually carried out in the federal government and also at NASA on Tuesday mid-day, which was very handy and sort of all of them to do in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually likewise been supporting as well as practical, trying to uplink newspaper article when our personal properties were actually inoperable, and claiming kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been terrific, as well. They recognize it's been actually a challenging time for me as well as the folks on the ground, and they have actually attempted to become as also keeled and beneficial as possible. Michael also corrected me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. And they give me lots of area to assume when I required it. They are actually very considerate as well as naturally outraged at whoever would certainly perform this.I understand a lot of people in Washington, plenty of people who travel to DC and NYC, a lot of who are aviators, that I really felt sure I will get at the very least a couple of pieces of trouble over the upcoming few days. I acquired the 1st one today when I found out that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that struck the Government was actually Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I came across Chic in the course of plebe summertime when our experts were in the D&B together, and our company possessed considerable amounts of courses together. I can not imagine what he has to of experienced, and also currently I listen to that he might possess risen even further than our company can even consider through perhaps avoiding his plane coming from being the one to tackle the White Residence. What a horrible loss, however I make sure Chic was battling fearlessly to the end. And also splits do not circulate the same precede ...It's challenging to describe how it really feels to become the only American completely off the planet at a time including this. The feeling that I ought to be there along with every one of you, handling this, aiding somehow, is overwhelming. I understand that we perform the threshold (or past) of a horrendous switch in the background of the planet. A lot of things will certainly never coincide once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not just for the manies thousand and also thousands of individuals straight impacted through these horrendous acts of violence, but perhaps for everybody. We are going to discover our own selves experiencing differently regarding dozens of factors, including probably area exploration, however.It is actually dreadful to observe smoke cigarettes pouring from injuries in your very own nation coming from such a superb vantage point. The dichotomy of being on a space probe dedicated to strengthening everyday life on the earth and also enjoying life being actually destroyed through such planned, dreadful actions is jolting to the mind, despite that you are actually. And the expertise that whatever will certainly be actually various than when we released by the time our experts land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our leadership that we will certainly do every thing possible to better guard her and our loved ones, as well as to carry fair treatment wherefore has been actually carried out. I have peace of mind that the good people at NASA will definitely carry out every little thing important to proceed our purpose securely and also return us safely at the right time. As well as I miss each one of you very much. I can't be there along with you face to face, and our team possess a very long way to head to finish our purpose, but be actually specific that my soul is actually along with you, as well as recognize you remain in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An improve to the final character ... Luckily, it is actually been actually a hectic full week up listed here. As well as to prove that, like our nation, our team are advancing our designated pathway with company customarily (as long as possible). Tonight the current enhancement to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will be actually launched coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (United States time), it will dock along with our company, at a port never ever used just before on the low point edge of the Service Element. This brand new module will certainly give us one more place to dock an Improvement or even Soyuz and also will definitely give a large airlock with two useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which our company will carry out a few of just before our experts get back.The complication before in handling recently was actually insufficient information. The issue now is too much. It arrived at one time when e-mail was actually repaired, as well as there's insufficient time to read everything! Plus it's also challenging to take care of all of it simultaneously. However I value receiving it, and also I actually appreciate the terrific letters of assistance and also friendship I am actually receiving.Our team are succeeding aboard, receiving our work performed, as well as talking about factors. Last night we had a long dialogue over supper about the implication of these events, the achievable activities to comply with, and also what should be done. After supper, Michael made a point of informing me that every e-mail he acquired from friends in Russia mentioned specifically to inform me exactly how regretful they were that this taken place, stretching their condolences, as well as asking how I was performing. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "acknowledgements" after speaking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity City. (Both the Russian and also the English words are much too long to verbalize conveniently.) Incredibly types folks.For the last pair of times, the Russian MCC has sufficed to send real-time broadcasts of broadcast news regarding the occasion and also linked accounts, to make sure I was well educated. Every specialist who has started free throw line to discuss a method or an issue has at some factor stretched introductions to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that as a result of the special day of remembrance in the US, all the time individuals had been actually bringing florals and lining all the wall structures of the United States embassy in Moscow, and this evening they were lighting candlesticks in the road outside the consular office. Just how the world has actually altered.Folks everywhere seem to be to identify the senselessness and terror within this assault. And also the tremendous reduction. Moscow has actually handled these kind of troubles in the final couple of years with condo and also subway bombings, so they are as troubled to eliminate this risk as we are actually. But all-time low series is actually that there are really good individuals just about everywhere who want to live in peace. I review that a kid inquired, "The United States is actually thus really good to various other nations, our team regularly assist every person, just how can they loathe us a great deal?".I hope the example of teamwork as well as rely on that this space probe plus all the people in the plan show daily will one day influence the rest of the world to operate similarly. They must!However, our team won't be piloting over the US during the time people are igniting candlesticks. Do not recognize if we can see that in any case. We performed, nevertheless, see a really unusual and also gorgeous view a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. Our company were surpassing it and it emerged about 3 mins after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sun struck our station, so it was still at night. It seemed like a sizable comet with a straight, vast tail silhouetted versus the dark planet beneath. Despite some bad illumination for some time as the sunlight attacked our window at a reduced perspective, I handled some video of it as first our team passed the rocket, and then watched it begin to mesmerize as it got height and also speed. I recorded till main engine deadline and enhancer splitting up took place just like we moved toward dawn on the Mountain ranges. A remarkable view in a memorable full week ...Lifestyle goes on, also in space. Our company're right here to keep ... Frank.