.Publisher's Keep in mind: The adhering to is actually the text of a character from Expedition Three Commander Frank L. Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), reviewing the events of September 11.September 12, 2001 7:34 p.m.I have not written significantly regarding specifics of this particular goal during the month I've been actually listed here, mostly for pair of explanations: the very first being actually that there has actually been quite little time to perform that kind of writing, and also second of all considering that I am actually not exactly sure how comfy I am sharing ideas I share with friends and family with the rest of the globe.Effectively, undoubtedly the world altered today. What I point out or even carry out is very small matched up to the importance of what occurred to our country today when it was attacked by ... by whom? Revolutionaries is all we understand, I suspect. Challenging to know at whom to drive our temper and fear ...I had actually only finished a number of tasks today, the best lengthy being actually the physical examinations of all crew members. In an exclusive chat following that, the flight specialist told me they were actually possessing a quite bad time on the ground. I possessed no concept ...He explained the circumstance to me as finest he understood it at ~ 0900 CDT. I was actually astonished, at that point horrified. My initial thought was actually that this had not been a genuine conversation, that I was actually still listening closely to among my Tom Clancy strips. It just failed to seem feasible on this incrustation in our country. I couldn't even picture the details, even before the information of further damage started being available in.Vladimir visited quite swiftly, sensing that something incredibly significant was being discussed. I swayed Michael in to the element too. They were additionally amazed and stunned. After our team authorized off, I made an effort to explain to Vladimir and also Michael as absolute best I could the prospective measurement of this particular act of terror in midtown Manhattan as well as at the Pentagon. They plainly comprehended as well as were really considerate.I browsed the Planet Map on the personal computer to see where over the world we were and also saw that we were actually happening southeast out of Canada and would certainly be overlooking New England in a handful of mins. I zipped around the station up until I located a window that would certainly give me a sight of New York City and also took hold of the closest video camera. It took place to become a camera, as well as I was actually looking southern from the window of Michael's cabin.The smoke seemed to be to possess an odd blossom to it at the bottom of the pillar that was streaming south of the metropolitan area. After reviewing some of the news articles our team just got, I believe our team were actually considering NY around the amount of time of, or even quickly after, the failure of the 2nd high rise. How terrible ...I swung the electronic camera during the East Shore to the south to find if I can observe any other smoke cigarettes around Washington, or anywhere else, yet nothing at all was visible.It was actually quite complicated to deal with work after that, though we had some to carry out, but on the upcoming track our team traversed the US further south. All 3 of us were working a couple of electronic cameras to attempt to obtain scenery of New York or even Washington. There was haze over Washington, yet no specific resource might be found. It all looked extraordinary from two to three hundred kilometers away. I can not think of the terrible settings on the ground.Apart from the psychological effect of our nation being actually tackled as well as countless our citizens as well as possibly some buddies being killed, one of the most mind-boggling feeling being actually where I am is among isolation.Upcoming time ... I reckon the fatigue as well as mental tension received the very best of me. I couldn't keep awake and continue to compose. Today was still challenging, however we started receiving even more information, plus our experts possessed the respect of talking straight along with the Facility Director, Roy Estess, that ensured our company that the ground groups will continue to work as well as ensure our protection, as well as the safe function of the Place. Our company additionally spoke with our Manager, Mr. Goldin, that included that the partners in the Program are actually all totally dedicated to proceeding secure operations and help. These were actually certainly never inquiries for me. I understand all these people! The ground staffs have been actually exceptionally helpful, quite understanding of the influence of the headlines, and have actually tried to be as valuable as feasible. They have all been extremely specialist and centered though I can not visualize the interruption of the type of information can be found in and the thought that government properties might be vulnerable. They never ever bypassed a beat, even when moving nerve center. And a group of senior personnel as well as buddies offered our company a pretty extensive rundown on what was actually known and what was being performed in the federal government as well as at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was actually really valuable and sort of them to accomplish in the middle of all the chaos. The Russian TsUP has additionally been actually helpful and also practical, trying to uplink news articles when our own resources were actually unusable, and also stating kind words ...My crewmates have been actually terrific, as well. They know it is actually been a hard time for me as well as the folks on the ground, as well as they have actually made an effort to be as also keeled and also handy as possible. Michael also repaired me my favored Borscht soup for dinner. And also they provide me loads of area to presume when I needed it. They are actually incredibly considerate and certainly outraged at whoever would certainly perform this.I recognize many individuals in Washington, plenty of folks who take a trip to DC as well as New York City, a lot of who are actually captains, that I really felt certain I would certainly receive a minimum of a handful of pieces of problem over the upcoming few times. I received the 1st one today when I learned that the Captain of the American Airlines jet that hit the Pentagon was actually Chic Burlingame, a schoolmate of mine. I found Chic during the course of cadet summer season when our team remained in the D&B all together, as well as we had great deals of lessons all together. I can't visualize what he needs to of looked at, as well as now I listen to that he may possess climbed further than our team may also think of by probably avoiding his aircraft coming from being actually the one to tackle the White Home. What a dreadful reduction, however I ensure Chic was actually combating fearlessly to the end. As well as rips do not stream the very same in space ...It's challenging to describe how it feels to become the only United States entirely off the earth each time like this. The sensation that I should be there with every one of you, handling this, aiding in some way, is difficult. I recognize that our experts perform the limit (or past) of a horrendous change in the history of the planet. Many traits will certainly never ever coincide once again after September 11, 2001. Certainly not only for the manies thousand and lots of individuals straight affected through these horrendous actions of violence, yet most likely for we all. Our experts will definitely find our own selves really feeling in different ways about loads of factors, consisting of possibly area exploration, unfortunately.It's awful to view smoke putting from wounds in your own nation coming from such a fantastic point of view. The duality of getting on a space probe committed to strengthening everyday life on the earth and also watching life being actually destroyed by such deliberate, horrendous actions is actually jolting to the mind, despite that you are. And also the expertise that whatever will definitely be various than when our experts introduced by the opportunity our team land is actually a little disconcerting. I believe in our nation as well as in our leadership that our experts are going to carry out whatever feasible to far better protect her and our loved ones, and to bring fair treatment for what has actually been done. I have peace of mind that the excellent people at NASA are going to perform whatever needed to proceed our purpose safely and return our team safely and securely at the right time. And I skip each of you quite. I can not exist with you face to face, as well as our company have a very long way to visit complete our goal, however be actually particular that my heart is actually with you, and also recognize you are in my requests.Humbly, Frank.September 14, 2001 10:49 p.m. An update to the last character ... Thankfully, it is actually been a busy full week up listed below. As well as to prove that, like our country, our team are continuing our designated pathway with company as usual (as high as achievable). Tonight the most up to date add-on to the station, the Russian Docking Chamber are going to be released coming from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On Saturday night (US time), it will certainly dock along with us, at a slot certainly never made use of prior to on the low point side of the Company Module. This new module is going to offer our team yet another area to dock a Progression or Soyuz and are going to deliver a big airlock along with 2 useable hatches for carrying out EVA's in Russian Orlan fits, which our experts are going to perform a few of before our company get home.The complication before in managing this week was too little updates. The complication today is way too much. It arrived simultaneously when email was repaired, as well as there's inadequate opportunity to read everything! Plus it's also challenging to deal with all of it immediately. But I appreciate acquiring it, as well as I actually enjoy the great characters of support and also relationship I am acquiring.We are actually prospering aboard, receiving our job done, and also referring to points. Last evening our team had a lengthy dialogue over dinner concerning the value of these celebrations, the possible actions to follow, and also what must be actually performed. After dinner, Michael made a point of informing me that every e-mail he acquired coming from pals in Russia stated specifically to tell me exactly how regretful they were actually that this taken place, stretching their acknowledgements, as well as asking just how I was performing. Vladimir educated me the Russian phrase for "acknowledgements" after talking with the previous CDR, Yuri Usachev, on the phone in Star City. (Both the Russian as well as the English phrases are actually considerably very lengthy to pronounce conveniently.) Very types people.For the last 2 days, the Russian MCC has actually sufficed to transfer online shows of broadcast updates about the occasion and connected tales, to ensure I was actually well notified. Every professional that has begun free throw line to review a treatment or a trouble has at some factor stretched introductions to me along with kind words. Tonight the Russian capcom informed us that due to the wedding day of remembrance in the US, throughout the day individuals had been actually bringing florals and also lining all the wall structures of the US consular office in Moscow, and also this night they were actually lighting candle lights in the street outside the consular office. Just how the world has actually modified.People just about everywhere appear to acknowledge the senselessness as well as horror in this attack. As well as the incredible reduction. Moscow has coped with these sort of concerns in the last few years along with apartment and also subway battles, so they are actually as restless to do away with this risk as our experts are. However all-time low series is actually that there are excellent people everywhere who intend to stay in tranquility. I read through that a kid inquired, "The United States is actually so excellent to other countries, our company consistently aid every person, exactly how can they dislike us a lot?".I really hope the instance of participation and trust fund that this space capsule and all individuals in the program display daily are going to at some point influence the remainder of the globe to function the same way. They must!However, our experts will not be flighting over the US during the time people are actually lighting candlesticks. Do not understand if we could observe that anyway. Our team carried out, nonetheless, see an incredibly uncommon and also wonderful view a few mins ago: the launch of our Docking Compartment on a Soyuz enhancer. Our experts were actually overtaking it and it appeared regarding three minutes after its launch from Baikonur as the sun attacked our terminal, so it was still in the dark. It resembled a large comet with a right, large rear silhouetted against the darker world underneath. Regardless of some negative lights for some time as the sun attacked our home window at a reduced viewpoint, I handled some video recording of it as first we passed the rocket, and then watched it start to mesmerize as it acquired altitude and velocity. I filmed up until main motor deadline as well as booster splitting up occurred just as our team came close to daybreak on the Mountain ranges. An unforgettable sight in a remarkable week ...Life takes place, also in space. Our team're listed here to remain ... Frank.