.Publisher's Keep in mind: The observing is the content of a character from Trip Three Leader Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), assessing the occasions of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not created significantly regarding specifics of the goal throughout the month I've been actually listed below, primarily for 2 causes: the initial being actually that there has been extremely little bit of time to carry out that type of composing, and also the second thing is because I am actually uncertain just how pleasant I am sharing ideas I provide friends and family with the remainder of the world.Properly, certainly the globe changed today. What I point out or even carry out is actually incredibly small compared to the importance of what took place to our nation today when it was actually struck by ... through whom? Terrorists is actually all we understand, I suppose. Difficult to recognize at whom to direct our rage and concern ...I had actually only completed an amount of jobs this morning, one of the most lengthy being the physical exams of all staff members. In an exclusive chat following that, the trip surgeon informed me they were actually possessing an extremely bad day on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He described the situation to me as absolute best he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually shocked, at that point frightened. My 1st thought and feelings was actually that this wasn't a true conversation, that I was actually still listening to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It merely failed to appear feasible on this incrustation in our country. I could not even imagine the details, even before the headlines of further damage started can be found in.Vladimir dropped in pretty swiftly, noticing that something extremely significant was actually being actually explained. I swung Michael into the module at the same time. They were additionally surprised and stunned. After our company authorized off, I attempted to detail to Vladimir as well as Michael as finest I could the prospective enormity of the show of horror in downtown New york as well as at the Pentagon. They accurately recognized and were actually very understanding.I eyed the World Map on the personal computer to see where over the planet our team were actually and also saw that our company were actually coming southeast away from Canada and would certainly be passing over New England in a few mins. I whized around the terminal till I discovered a window that would certainly give me a view of New York City as well as got the closest electronic camera. It happened to be a camera, as well as I was appearing southern coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke appeared to have an odd flower to it at the foundation of the pillar that was streaming south of the city. After reviewing among the news articles our team just got, I believe our team were actually looking at NY around the time of, or soon after, the collapse of the 2nd high rise. How horrible ...I scanned the electronic camera during the East Shoreline to the south to see if I can observe any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or even anywhere else, yet nothing was visible.It was actually pretty complicated to think of work afterwards, though our experts had some to carry out, however on the next track our experts moved across the United States additional south. All three of us were working 1 or 2 electronic cameras to make an effort to get viewpoints of New York or Washington. There was actually haze over Washington, but no specific source can be seen. Everything looked amazing from 2 to 3 hundred kilometers away. I can't envision the unfortunate scenes on the ground.Aside from the psychological influence of our nation being attacked and 1000s of our consumers and also possibly some close friends being actually killed, the best frustrating emotion being actually where I am is one of solitude.Upcoming time ... I guess the tiredness and psychological strain got the very best of me. I could not keep awake as well as remain to write. Today was still challenging, but we began receiving more relevant information, plus our experts possessed the respect of talking straight along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that assured our team that the ground crews will continue to work and also guarantee our security, along with the safe procedure of the Place. Our company also talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, who incorporated that the partners in the Course are all totally dedicated to carrying on secure operations and also assistance. These were actually certainly never inquiries for me. I understand all these folks! The ground groups have actually been extremely encouraging, quite understanding of the influence of the updates, and have actually made an effort to be as practical as feasible. They have all been quite expert and also centered though I can't think of the distraction of this form of information coming in and also the thought that federal government structures could be in jeopardy. They certainly never avoided a beat, also when moving control centers. As well as a group of senior personnel and also close friends provided our team a fairly thorough rundown on what was actually known and also what was actually being performed in the federal government and also at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually extremely beneficial as well as type of them to perform in the midst of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has actually additionally been supportive as well as valuable, trying to uplink newspaper article when our very own resources were inoperable, and mentioning kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been wonderful, also. They understand it is actually been actually a tough day for me and also the people on the ground, as well as they have actually attempted to be as also keeled and also beneficial as possible. Michael also repaired me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. As well as they give me plenty of space to presume when I needed it. They are incredibly understanding as well as certainly shocked at whoever will perform this.I understand a lot of people in Washington, so many individuals that travel to DC and also New York City, so many that are actually pilots, that I felt certain I will get at least a couple of items of bad news over the next few days. I obtained the initial one today when I knew that the Leader of the American Airlines plane that attacked the Government was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I encountered Chic during plebe summer season when our experts resided in the D&B with each other, and our experts had considerable amounts of courses all together. I can not envision what he needs to of gone through, and also currently I listen to that he might have climbed better than our company can easily even consider by potentially stopping his plane from being the one to deal with the White Property. What a terrible reduction, however I'm sure Chic was actually fighting bravely throughout. And splits don't move the very same precede ...It is actually tough to illustrate exactly how it feels to become the only American totally off the world at once including this. The sensation that I need to exist with each one of you, dealing with this, helping in some way, is actually frustrating. I recognize that our company are on the limit (or past) of a horrendous change in the background of the planet. Lots of factors will never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Certainly not merely for the thousands as well as countless people directly had an effect on by these horrendous acts of terrorism, however probably for we all. We will find ourselves really feeling in a different way regarding dozens of traits, featuring perhaps room expedition, unfortunately.It is actually awful to see smoke cigarettes pouring from cuts in your personal nation coming from such a superb vantage point. The duality of being on a spacecraft dedicated to enhancing live on the planet as well as watching life being actually destroyed by such witting, dreadful actions is jolting to the mind, no matter that you are. As well as the understanding that whatever are going to be various than when our experts introduced by the opportunity we land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and also in our leadership that our team are going to carry out everything feasible to better safeguard her and also our households, and to bring justice for what has been performed. I possess confidence that the great individuals at NASA will carry out every thing necessary to proceed our purpose safely and return us properly at the right time. And I miss out on each one of you significantly. I can't exist along with you personally, and our experts possess a very long way to go to complete our purpose, however be particular that my soul is along with you, and also know you reside in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the last character ... Luckily, it's been a busy full week up listed here. And also to show that, like our country, our experts are advancing our designated pathway along with organization customarily (as long as achievable). Tonight the most recent add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber will certainly be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (US time), it will certainly dock along with our company, at a port never utilized prior to on the nadir side of the Service Element. This brand new module will certainly offer us one more place to dock a Progression or Soyuz and will certainly offer a big airlock with pair of able to be used hatches for performing EVA's in Russian Orlan suits, which we will definitely perform a few of just before we get back.The trouble prior to in managing this week was too little updates. The issue now is actually excessive. It arrived simultaneously when email was actually recovered, as well as there is actually inadequate opportunity to review it all! Plus it is actually also challenging to manage all of it at the same time. Yet I cherish getting it, and also I definitely enjoy the fantastic characters of assistance as well as companionship I am receiving.Our company are actually prospering on board, obtaining our work performed, and referring to points. Final evening our company possessed a lengthy discussion over dinner regarding the significance of these events, the feasible activities to comply with, and also what ought to be performed. After dinner, Michael made a point of informing me that every e-mail he acquired from buddies in Russia pointed out especially to inform me how regretful they were actually that this taken place, stretching their acknowledgements, and also asking how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir instructed me the Russian phrase for "condolences" after speaking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are considerably extremely long to pronounce easily.) Quite types individuals.For the final two days, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to transmit online programs of radio news about the activity and associated stories, to ensure I was effectively educated. Every expert that has begun free throw line to review a technique or even a trouble contends some point expanded hellos to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that as a result of the wedding day of recognition in the US, all day folks had actually been taking flowers and also lining all the walls of the United States consular office in Moscow, and this night they were actually lighting candles in the street outside the consular office. Just how the planet has actually modified.Individuals just about everywhere seem to recognize the senselessness as well as terror within this attack. And also the incredible loss. Moscow has dealt with these sort of issues in the last couple of years with condo and metro battles, so they are as anxious to do away with this danger as our experts are. However the bottom product line is actually that there are actually good people almost everywhere that intend to live in calmness. I read through that a little one inquired, "United States is therefore excellent to other nations, our company regularly help every person, exactly how can they detest our team a lot?".I wish the example of teamwork and also trust that this space capsule plus all individuals in the course demonstrate daily are going to one day influence the rest of the globe to operate similarly. They must!Unfortunately, our experts won't be taking flight over the United States while people are lighting candlesticks. Don't recognize if we could view that anyway. Our team did, however, observe an extremely unusual as well as gorgeous attraction a few moments ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were overtaking it as well as it emerged concerning 3 minutes after its launch from Baikonur as the sunlight struck our station, so it was actually still at night. It seemed like a big comet along with a straight, large rear silhouetted against the dark world under. Regardless of some bad illumination for some time as the sun struck our home window at a low angle, I handled some video clip of it as to begin with our company passed the spacecraft, and then watched it start to mesmerize as it got altitude and rate. I recorded up until principal engine cutoff and enhancer splitting up developed equally our team approached sunrise on the Himalayas. An unforgettable sight in a remarkable week ...Lifestyle happens, even in space. Our company are actually here to stay ... Frank.