.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is the text of a character coming from Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Resigned), assessing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I haven't composed quite about specifics of the objective during the course of the month I've been actually here, primarily for 2 explanations: the very first being that there has been really little time to perform that kind of writing, and also furthermore, given that I'm not sure exactly how relaxed I am actually sharing thoughts I provide friends and family with the remainder of the globe.Well, clearly the world altered today. What I point out or perform is very slight reviewed to the importance of what took place to our country today when it was struck through ... through whom? Terrorists is all we know, I suspect. Tough to understand at whom to guide our rage and also concern ...I had simply completed a number of duties this morning, the most lengthy being the physical examinations of all workers participants. In a personal discussion adhering to that, the flight cosmetic surgeon informed me they were actually having a very bad time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He explained the situation to me as finest he recognized it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was overwhelmed, at that point horrified. My very first thought was actually that this wasn't a genuine discussion, that I was still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy tapes. It only really did not appear feasible on this scale in our nation. I couldn't also imagine the details, even prior to the headlines of further damage began coming in.Vladimir came over rather rapidly, sensing that something quite serious was actually being covered. I swayed Michael in to the module as well. They were also surprised and also stunned. After our company authorized off, I made an effort to describe to Vladimir and Michael as finest I might the prospective enormity of the show of terror in downtown Manhattan and also at the Government. They precisely understood and also were actually extremely considerate.I glanced at the Globe Map on the personal computer to see where over the globe our experts were and also saw that our company were coming southeast out of Canada and would certainly be skipping New England in a couple of mins. I zoomed around the station till I discovered a window that would offer me a view of NYC and also grabbed the nearest camera. It took place to be a video camera, and also I was actually appearing southern coming from the window of Michael's log cabin.The smoke cigarettes seemed to possess a strange bloom to it at the foundation of the column that was actually streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reading among the newspaper article our experts simply got, I think our experts were checking out NY around the amount of time of, or even quickly after, the failure of the 2nd tower. Just how horrendous ...I panned the camera during the East Shoreline to the south to observe if I could possibly see some other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, but absolutely nothing was visible.It was actually fairly complicated to deal with work afterwards, though our team had some to perform, but on the upcoming track our company crossed the United States additional south. All 3 of us were functioning 1 or 2 cameras to make an effort to receive perspectives of Nyc or Washington. There was fog over Washington, yet no specific resource may be seen. Everything looked amazing from two to three hundred miles away. I can't think of the heartbreaking scenes on the ground.Apart from the psychological effect of our country being actually dealt with and lots of our citizens as well as perhaps some pals being actually eliminated, the absolute most mind-boggling emotion being actually where I am is just one of seclusion.Upcoming time ... I suppose the fatigue and mental stress acquired the greatest of me. I could not stay awake and continue to create. Today was actually still hard, yet our company started acquiring additional info, plus our company had the respect of talking directly with the Center Supervisor, Roy Estess, who assured our team that the ground staffs will continue to operate as well as guarantee our security, in addition to the safe function of the Station. We also spoke with our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that incorporated that the companions in the System are actually all totally dedicated to continuing risk-free operations as well as assistance. These were certainly never questions for me. I understand all these individuals! The ground staffs have been very supporting, quite understanding of the impact of the updates, as well as have actually attempted to be as useful as achievable. They have all been actually quite expert and centered though I can't imagine the distraction of the kind of headlines being available in and also the notion that authorities buildings may be at risk. They never ever avoided a beat, even when transferring control centers. And a team of senior workers and close friends provided our company a pretty in depth instruction about what was known and also what was being done in the authorities and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was very handy and also kind of them to carry out in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has likewise been actually supportive and also helpful, trying to uplink news articles when our very own assets were inoperable, and stating kind terms ...My crewmates have actually been wonderful, as well. They understand it's been actually a tough day for me as well as the individuals on the ground, and they've tried to become as even keeled as well as handy as feasible. Michael even corrected me my beloved Borscht soup for supper. And also they provide me loads of space to believe when I required it. They are actually incredibly supportive as well as naturally shocked at whoever would certainly do this.I know so many people in Washington, so many people who take a trip to DC as well as New York City, numerous that are actually flies, that I really felt sure I would certainly obtain a minimum of a handful of pieces of problem over the upcoming few days. I got the very first one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that struck the Pentagon was Chic Burlingame, a friend of mine. I met Chic during plebe summer when our company remained in the D&B with each other, and we possessed considerable amounts of courses with each other. I can not imagine what he should of experienced, and also right now I listen to that he may have risen additionally than our experts may even consider through possibly stopping his plane from being the one to attack the White House. What a horrible loss, however I make certain Chic was dealing with bravely throughout. And splits don't flow the exact same in space ...It's challenging to describe exactly how it really feels to become the only United States entirely off the planet at once including this. The sensation that I need to exist with every one of you, coping with this, aiding somehow, is actually difficult. I know that our company perform the threshold (or even past) of a horrendous shift in the past history of the world. Many traits will never ever be the same once more after September 11, 2001. Not simply for the thousands and hundreds of folks directly impacted by these ghastly actions of terrorism, however most likely for everyone. We will definitely discover ourselves feeling differently about dozens of factors, consisting of most likely area exploration, regrettably.It's terrible to find smoke pouring from cuts in your own country coming from such a fantastic viewpoint. The dichotomy of getting on a space probe committed to enhancing life on the planet as well as enjoying life being destroyed through such deliberate, horrendous acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are actually. As well as the know-how that whatever will certainly be actually various than when our company launched due to the opportunity our team land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our country and in our leadership that we are going to do every little thing achievable to far better safeguard her as well as our loved ones, and also to bring fair treatment wherefore has actually been actually carried out. I possess self-confidence that the great people at NASA will certainly do everything essential to continue our goal properly and also return us safely at the correct time. And I skip every one of you significantly. I can not exist along with you personally, and also our team possess a very long way to head to finish our objective, yet be actually specific that my center is actually with you, and also understand you reside in my petitions.Submissively, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last character ... Luckily, it's been actually an active full week up listed here. As well as to prove that, like our nation, our team are actually advancing our designated path along with company as usual (as high as achievable). Tonight the most recent enhancement to the place, the Russian Docking Chamber will certainly be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Sunday night (US time), it is going to dock with us, at a port certainly never utilized just before on the low point edge of the Solution Component. This brand new element will certainly offer us one more spot to dock a Progress or Soyuz as well as will give a large airlock along with two useable hatches for conducting EVA's in Russian Orlan matches, which our team will definitely perform a few of before we return.The issue just before in coping with today was actually too little headlines. The concern right now is actually excessive. It arrived at one time when email was actually brought back, as well as there is actually not nearly enough time to read it all! Plus it is actually too hard to deal with all of it at the same time. But I appreciate receiving it, and also I truly value the fantastic letters of support as well as friendly relationship I am obtaining.Our experts are actually prospering aboard, receiving our work performed, and also speaking about factors. Final night we possessed a long dialogue over supper regarding the significance of these occasions, the feasible actions to adhere to, as well as what need to be actually done. After dinner, Michael challenged telling me that every e-mail he obtained from close friends in Russia claimed particularly to inform me just how regretful they were actually that this occurred, extending their condolences, and talking to how I was actually performing. Vladimir taught me the Russian word for "condolences" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Celebrity Area. (Both the Russian as well as the English terms are actually much extremely lengthy to verbalize easily.) Very kind individuals.For the final 2 times, the Russian MCC has actually been good enough to send online broadcasts of radio headlines about the celebration and associated tales, to make certain I was properly informed. Every professional that has actually begun the line to talk about a procedure or a problem contends some aspect extended hellos to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed our team that as a result of the wedding of remembrance in the US, all the time people had been actually bringing florals as well as edging all the wall structures of the US embassy in Moscow, and this night they were lighting candlesticks in the road outside the consular office. How the world has changed.Folks everywhere seem to recognize the senselessness and also scary in this strike. As well as the remarkable loss. Moscow has dealt with these type of troubles in the last couple of years with apartment or condo and metro battles, so they are as troubled to do away with this risk as our experts are actually. However all-time low line is actually that there are really good folks almost everywhere who would like to reside in tranquility. I review that a little one asked, "United States is actually so really good to various other nations, we consistently assist everybody, exactly how can they hate us a lot?".I hope the example of collaboration and also leave that this space probe and all people in the plan demonstrate daily are going to one day motivate the remainder of the planet to function similarly. They must!Sadly, our company won't be flighting over the US during the time folks are actually lighting candlesticks. Don't know if we can observe that in any case. Our company did, however, observe an extremely uncommon as well as stunning view a couple of mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz booster. Our company were actually eclipsing it as well as it emerged concerning 3 moments after its launch coming from Baikonur as the sunshine reached our station, so it was still in the dark. It resembled a big comet along with a straight, broad tail silhouetted versus the dark planet under. Even with some negative lighting for some time as the sun attacked our window at a low angle, I dealt with some online video of it as first our team passed the rocket, and after that enjoyed it start to mesmerize as it acquired height as well as velocity. I recorded until major motor deadline and booster separation occurred just as our team came close to daybreak on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable sight in an extraordinary full week ...Life goes on, also in space. We're listed below to remain ... Frank.