.Editor's Details: The complying with is the message of a letter from Exploration 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Leader, USN Retired), assessing the activities of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed quite regarding specifics of the mission during the course of the month I've been actually below, primarily for 2 reasons: the initial being that there has actually been extremely little bit of opportunity to accomplish that type of creating, and secondly since I am actually uncertain just how pleasant I am discussing ideas I share with friends and family along with the rest of the world.Properly, clearly the world transformed today. What I mention or do is actually incredibly small compared to the implication of what happened to our nation today when it was assaulted through ... through whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suppose. Difficult to know at whom to guide our rage and also worry ...I had actually only ended up a number of activities today, one of the most lengthy being the physical examinations of all team members. In a personal discussion following that, the tour plastic surgeon told me they were having a really poor day on the ground. I possessed no tip ...He defined the condition to me as absolute best he knew it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually overwhelmed, at that point horrified. My initial idea was actually that this wasn't a true discussion, that I was still paying attention to one of my Tom Clancy strips. It merely didn't seem feasible on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even visualize the details, even prior to the news of additional devastation started can be found in.Vladimir came pretty quickly, noticing that one thing very severe was actually being actually discussed. I waved Michael in to the component at the same time. They were actually additionally surprised and stunned. After we authorized off, I made an effort to explain to Vladimir as well as Michael as absolute best I could the possible immensity of this particular show of horror in midtown Manhattan and also at the Pentagon. They plainly understood and also were actually incredibly thoughtful.I glanced at the Globe Chart on the pc to view where over the world we were actually and also discovered that our team were happening southeast away from Canada and also would be passing over New England in a few mins. I zipped around the terminal till I discovered a home window that will offer me a viewpoint of NYC and took hold of the nearest camera. It took place to be a video camera, and I was actually looking southern from the home window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke appeared to possess a strange flower to it at the base of the column that was actually streaming south of the urban area. After reviewing one of the news articles we merely acquired, I think our team were actually examining NY around the time of, or shortly after, the crash of the 2nd tower. Exactly how dreadful ...I swung the video camera the whole time the East Coast to the south to see if I could possibly find every other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing showed up.It was actually pretty difficult to consider job after that, though our experts had some to carry out, yet on the following track our company went across the United States additional south. All 3 people were actually working one or two cameras to attempt to get scenery of New York or Washington. There was actually fog over Washington, but no specific resource could be seen. All of it appeared extraordinary coming from a couple of hundred kilometers away. I can't picture the tragic scenes on the ground.Other than the mental impact of our nation being actually dealt with and thousands of our citizens and maybe some good friends being gotten rid of, the best mind-boggling feeling being where I am actually is among solitude.Upcoming time ... I reckon the exhaustion as well as psychological pressure obtained the most ideal of me. I could not keep awake and also continue to create. Today was actually still tough, but we started acquiring additional information, plus our experts possessed the tribute of talking directly along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that guaranteed our team that the ground crews would remain to work as well as guarantee our safety and security, in addition to the risk-free operation of the Place. We additionally talked to our Supervisor, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the companions in the System are all absolutely devoted to continuing risk-free functions and also support. These were never ever concerns for me. I know all these folks! The ground teams have been extremely helpful, extremely understanding of the impact of the news, as well as have actually tried to become as practical as possible. They have actually all been very specialist and also focused though I can not imagine the interruption of this particular form of news can be found in as well as the idea that government structures could be vulnerable. They certainly never bypassed a beat, even when moving control centers. And a group of senior workers and good friends provided us a fairly extensive instruction about what was actually recognized as well as what was actually being actually carried out in the federal government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was very practical as well as kind of all of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has also been helpful and helpful, attempting to uplink news articles when our very own possessions were actually inoperable, and also saying kind phrases ...My crewmates have been terrific, too. They recognize it is actually been actually a hard time for me and also the people on the ground, and also they have actually attempted to become as even keeled as well as useful as possible. Michael also fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. And they give me plenty of room to presume when I required it. They are really compassionate and also certainly shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I understand numerous individuals in Washington, so many people who travel to DC as well as New York City, many who are captains, that I felt certain I would certainly receive at the very least a handful of parts of bad news over the upcoming few days. I acquired the initial one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that hit the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a classmate of mine. I met Chic throughout plebe summertime when our experts resided in the D&B with each other, and also our experts had great deals of lessons together. I can not visualize what he should of gone through, as well as currently I listen to that he might possess increased further than our company can even consider through perhaps avoiding his aircraft coming from being actually the one to deal with the White Home. What a horrible reduction, but I ensure Chic was actually battling bravely to the end. And also tears don't circulate the very same in space ...It is actually challenging to define exactly how it feels to become the only United States entirely off the planet at a time such as this. The sensation that I need to exist with all of you, coping with this, helping somehow, is difficult. I recognize that our company get on the limit (or even beyond) of a horrendous shift in the record of the planet. Many points are going to never ever coincide again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the thousands as well as hundreds of individuals straight impacted by these horrible acts of violence, but probably for we all. Our experts will certainly discover our own selves feeling in different ways regarding lots of things, consisting of probably space exploration, however.It is actually dreadful to find smoke putting coming from injuries in your very own nation coming from such a fantastic angle. The duality of being on a space capsule dedicated to strengthening live on the earth as well as viewing lifestyle being ruined by such unforced, horrendous actions is actually jolting to the subconscious, despite that you are. And the know-how that every little thing will be actually different than when our company launched by the time our team land is a little disconcerting. I believe in our country as well as in our management that our team will certainly carry out everything possible to far better protect her and our households, and also to deliver fair treatment for what has been actually carried out. I have confidence that the really good folks at NASA are going to carry out everything important to continue our purpose safely as well as return our company safely at the correct time. As well as I skip each of you very much. I can't exist along with you face to face, and we possess a long way to go to complete our objective, however be actually certain that my heart is actually with you, and understand you reside in my prayers.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An upgrade to the final letter ... Fortunately, it's been an occupied full week up listed below. As well as to prove that, like our nation, we are actually continuing our intended road with organization customarily (as high as feasible). Tonight the current addition to the station, the Russian Docking Compartment will be released from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday evening (United States time), it is going to dock along with our team, at a slot never ever used just before on the nadir edge of the Solution Module. This brand-new element will provide us another place to dock a Progression or Soyuz and also will definitely deliver a huge airlock along with two able to be used hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan meets, which our experts will definitely do a few of just before our team get back.The complication prior to in managing today was actually insufficient information. The trouble now is actually excessive. It arrived simultaneously when email was rejuvenated, as well as there is actually insufficient time to review all of it! Plus it is actually as well difficult to deal with all of it at the same time. But I appreciate acquiring it, as well as I truly appreciate the fantastic characters of assistance and relationship I am actually obtaining.Our company are actually flourishing aboard, receiving our job carried out, and also referring to factors. Final night we possessed a long conversation over supper concerning the value of these events, the achievable actions to follow, and what need to be actually performed. After dinner, Michael challenged informing me that every email he obtained coming from pals in Russia said exclusively to tell me just how sorry they were that this happened, extending their acknowledgements, and inquiring how I was actually carrying out. Vladimir showed me the Russian term for "acknowledgements" after talking to the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Urban area. (Both the Russian and the English phrases are actually much too lengthy to pronounce quickly.) Incredibly types people.For the final two days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transmit online broadcasts of radio headlines regarding the event and also linked tales, to see to it I was well notified. Every professional that has come on free throw line to talk about an operation or even an issue has at some factor expanded greetings to me along with kind phrases. Tonight the Russian capcom told our company that because of the wedding day of recognition in the US, throughout the day individuals had actually been delivering flowers as well as lining all the wall surfaces of the United States consulate in Moscow, and this evening they were actually lighting candle lights in the road outside the embassy. How the globe has modified.Folks anywhere seem to be to recognize the senselessness and horror in this assault. And the enormous reduction. Moscow has actually taken care of these sort of problems in the final few years along with apartment and train bombings, so they are actually as nervous to do away with this risk as our company are. Yet all-time low collection is that there are actually really good individuals just about everywhere who want to stay in peace. I go through that a youngster asked, "The United States is actually thus good to other countries, our company always help everyone, just how can they dislike us a lot?".I really hope the example of collaboration and also depend on that this space capsule and all the people in the course illustrate daily will sooner or later inspire the rest of the globe to function similarly. They must!However, our team will not be flying over the US during the time individuals are actually igniting candles. Do not recognize if our company might see that anyway. Our experts performed, however, see an extremely unusual as well as wonderful sight a handful of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Chamber on a Soyuz enhancer. Our team were surpassing it and it appeared regarding three minutes after its own launch coming from Baikonur as the sunshine hit our station, so it was still unaware. It seemed like a big comet along with a right, large rear silhouetted against the black planet beneath. In spite of some bad lights for some time as the sunlight hit our window at a low perspective, I managed some online video of it as initially we passed the spacecraft, and after that viewed it start to catch up as it got height and also velocity. I shot up until major motor deadline and booster splitting up took place just as our company moved toward sunup on the Himalayas. A memorable sight in an unforgettable week ...Life takes place, even precede. Our company're listed below to remain ... Frank.