NASA has recently shared a deeply moving letter penned by astronaut Frank Culbertson, the only American not on Earth when the tragic events of September 11, 2001 unfolded. Serving as Expedition Three Commander aboard the International Space Station at that time, Culbertson captured images of the devastation from space and documented his thoughts in the days following the attack.
In a chilling account, he recounts how, on that fateful day, he was informed by the flight surgeon about the terrorist attack on New York’s Twin Towers. He expressed disbelief, initially believing it to be a scene from one of his Tom Clancy tapes. As more information became available, he struggled with feelings of isolation and helplessness being so far away from home while his country dealt with such a horrendous act of terrorism.
From the International Space Station, Culbertson took photographs of the smoke plume rising from the Manhattan area following the attack on the Twin Towers. As he watched from 250 miles above Earth, he was struck by the overwhelming sense of isolation that comes with being off the planet at a time when his country was under attack.
Culbertson’s letter documents the emotional impact of witnessing the events of September 11th unfold from such a unique vantage point and grappling with feelings of guilt for not being able to help those on the ground directly affected by the attacks. He also expressed concern that these tragic events might have an adverse impact on future space exploration efforts, as people’s priorities shifted towards more immediate concerns at home.
As the news sunk in, Culbertson learned that the plane which struck the Pentagon had been piloted at take-off by his Naval Academy classmate Charles Burlingame, with whom he shared an educational and professional background in aeronautical engineering and as F-4 fighter pilots. This connection only served to deepen the emotional toll of the events for Culbertson, who was left feeling isolated and disconnected from his fellow countrymen during this difficult time.
This poignant letter provides us with an intimate glimpse into the thoughts and emotions experienced by one of NASA’s astronauts while witnessing a world-changing event from space. It serves as a powerful reminder of the human connection that transcends even the vast distances between Earth and its orbiting inhabitants, showing that no matter how far away we may be, we are all affected by events on our home planet.
