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Space station commander remembers 9/11

"The smoke seemed to have an odd bloom to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the city. After reading one of the news articles we just received, I believe we were looking at NY around the time of, or shortly after, the collapse of the second tower. How horrible…"-Frank Culbertson

Frank Culbertson (Captain, USN Retired), the commander of Expedition 3 on the International Space Station, was the only American not on Earth at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

This was the view he had -- click to enlarge.

Image credit: NASA

As soon as Culbertson learned of the attacks, he began documenting the event in photographs because the station was flying over the New York City area. From his unique vantage point in space, he recorded his thoughts of the world changing beneath him.

Culbertson posted a public letter that captured his initial thoughts of the events as they unfolded.

Astronaut Frank Culbertson Letter from September 11, 2001
09.11.01

September 12, 2001; 19:34 hours

I haven't written very much about specifics of this mission during the month I've been here, mainly for two reasons: the first being that there has been very little time to do that kind of writing, and secondly because I'm not sure how comfortable I am sharing thoughts I share with family and friends with the rest of the world.

Well, obviously the world changed today. What I say or do is very minor compared to the significance of what happened to our country today when it was attacked by .... by whom? Terrorists is all we know, I guess. Hard to know at whom to direct our anger and fear...

I had just finished a number of tasks this morning, the most time-consuming being the physical exams of all crew members. In a private conversation following that, the flight surgeon told me they were having a very bad day on the ground. I had no idea...

He described the situation to me as best he knew it at ~0900 CDT. I was flabbergasted, then horrified. My first thought was that this wasn't a real conversation, that I was still listening to one of my Tom Clancy tapes. It just didn't seem possible on this scale in our country. I couldn't even imagine the particulars, even before the news of further destruction began coming in.

Vladimir came over pretty quickly, sensing that something very serious was being discussed. I waved Michael into the module as well. They were also amazed and stunned. After we signed off, I tried to explain to Vladimir and Michael as best I could the potential magnitude of this act of terror in downtown Manhattan and at the Pentagon. They clearly understood and were very sympathetic.

I glanced at the World Map on the computer to see where over the world we were and noticed that we were coming southeast out of Canada and would be passing over New England in a few minutes. I zipped around the station until I found a window that would give me a view of NYC and grabbed the nearest camera. It happened to be a video camera, and I was looking south from the window of Michael's cabin.

The smoke seemed to have an odd bloom to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the city. After reading one of the news articles we just received, I believe we were looking at NY around the time of, or shortly after, the collapse of the second tower. How horrible…

I panned the camera all along the East Coast to the south to see if I could see any other smoke around Washington, or anywhere else, but nothing was visible.

It was pretty difficult to think about work after that, though we had some to do, but on the next orbit we crossed the US further south. All three of us were working one or two cameras to try to get views of New York or Washington. There was haze over Washington, but no specific source could be seen. It all looked incredible from two to three hundred miles away. I can't imagine the tragic scenes on the ground.

Other than the emotional impact of our country being attacked and thousands of our citizens and maybe some friends being killed, the most overwhelming feeling being where I am is one of isolation.

Next day....

I guess the fatigue and emotional strain got the best of me. I couldn't stay awake and continue to write. Today was still difficult, but we started getting more information, plus we had the honor of talking directly with the Center Director, Roy Estess, who assured us that the ground teams would continue to work and ensure our safety, as well as the safe operation of the Station. We also heard from our Administrator, Mr. Goldin, who added that the partners in the Program are all totally committed to continuing safe operations and support. These were never questions for me. I know all these people! The ground teams have been incredibly supportive, very understanding of the impact of the news, and have tried to be as helpful as possible. They have all been very professional and focused though I can't imagine the distraction of this type of news coming in and the thought that government buildings might be at risk. They never skipped a beat, even when relocating control centers. And a group of senior personnel and friends gave us a pretty thorough briefing on what was known and what was being done in the government and at NASA on Tuesday afternoon, which was very helpful and kind of them to do in the midst of all the turmoil. The Russian TsUP has also been supportive and helpful, trying to uplink news articles when our own assets were inoperable, and saying kind words...

My crewmates have been great, too. They know it's been a tough day for me and the folks on the ground, and they've tried to be as even keeled and helpful as possible. Michael even fixed me my favorite Borscht soup for dinner. And they give me plenty of room to think when I needed it. They are very sympathetic and of course outraged at whoever would do this.

I know so many people in Washington, so many people who travel to DC and NYC, so many who are pilots, that I felt sure I would receive at least a few pieces of bad news over the next few days. I got the first 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 during plebe summer when we were in the D&B together, and we had lots of classes together. I can't imagine what he must of gone through, and now I hear that he may have risen further than we can even think of by possibly preventing his plane from being the one to attack the White House. What a terrible loss, but I'm sure Chic was fighting bravely to the end. And tears don't flow the same in space...

It's difficult to describe how it feels to be the only American completely off the planet at a time such as this. The feeling that I should be there with all of you, dealing with this, helping in some way, is overwhelming. I know that we are on the threshold (or beyond) of a terrible shift in the history of the world. Many things will never be the same again after September 11, 2001. Not just for the thousands and thousands of people directly affected by these horrendous acts of terrorism, but probably for all of us. We will find ourselves feeling differently about dozens of things, including probably space exploration, unfortunately.

It's horrible to see smoke pouring from wounds in your own country from such a fantastic vantage point. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft dedicated to improving life on the earth and watching life being destroyed by such willful, terrible acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are. And the knowledge that everything will be different than when we launched by the time we land is a little disconcerting. I have confidence in our country and in our leadership that we will do everything possible to better defend her and our families, and to bring justice for what has been done. I have confidence that the good people at NASA will do everything necessary to continue our mission safely and return us safely at the right time. And I miss all of you very much. I can't be there with you in person, and we have a long way to go to complete our mission, but be certain that my heart is with you, and know you are in my prayers.

Humbly,
Frank

In the following video, at about the 1.25 mark, Culbertson reflects what it was like being the only American not on Earth at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks:

The last reentry

This is the view the International Space Station had of the reentry of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

According to NASA, this unprecedented view of the space shuttle Atlantis, appearing like a bean sprout against clouds and city lights, on its way home, was photographed by the Expedition 28 crew of the International Space Station. Airglow over Earth can be seen in the background. 

Image Credit: NASA

Space shuttle Discovery returns to space

Updated with Video.

Image courtesy of NASA-TV

Space shuttle Discovery and a crew of seven astronauts lifted off at 6:21 a.m. this morning, headed to the International Space Station.

The mission is one of four remaining shuttle flights. NASA plans to retire the fleet this fall.

You can watch video of the launch below.

Space shuttle Endeavour returns to space

Space shuttle Endeavour rocketed into orbit Monday on what' is expected to be the last nighttime launch of a shuttle.

Endeavour is transporting a new room and observation deck for the International Space Station. Endeavour and will deliver and install Tranquility, a new room that will eventually house life-support equipment, exercise machines and a toilet, as well as a seven-windowed dome. The lookout has the biggest window ever sent into space, a circle 31 inches across.

Three spacewalks are planned during Endeavour's flight to hook up the new station compartments.

This mission will be the last major construction job at the space station.

There are just four more missions scheduled -- in March, May, July and September, before the shuttles are retired.

Shuttle Atlantis returns to Earth

Space Shuttle Atlantis returned to Earth Friday, morning landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Image courtesy of NASA TV

The 11-day mission delivered key spare parts to prolong the life of the international space station. The parts are expected to add years to the station's life after the space shuttle fleet is retired next year.

The Atlantis astronauts performed three spacewalks and installed two platforms on the station's backbone. The platforms will hold the spare parts that Atlantis delivered.

The following CBS video covers the highlights of the just completed mission:

NASA's next shuttle mission, Delivery of Node 3, named Tranquility, and the Cupola, a robotic control station, is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2010.

Atlantis returns to space

Space shuttle Atlantis is safely in orbit with six astronauts and a full load of spare parts for the International Space Station.

Atlantis lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:28 p.m. EST.

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Atlantis will reach the space station Wednesday, an will return to Earth the day after Thanksgiving.

Happy moon landing day

Remembering Tranquility Base.

It's been 40 years since we heard those famous words announcing that humans had finally reached another world:

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

When mission commander Neil Armstrong finally took the "small step," I was watching in the Fillmore West in San Francisco. In a corner of the huge concert hall they had a large screen showing man’s first steps on the moon. The activities at Tranquility Base fit right in with the light show.

Where were you when Armstrong took that the "giant leap for mankind?"

The following video shows shows highlights from the Apollo 11 mission including, liftoff in Florida, the Eagle's descent and landing, Armstrong's first steps on the moon, activities at Tranquility Base, the Eagle's return to the orbiting Columbia, and splashdown:

PHOTO: Aldrin Looks Back at Tranquility Base - Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin was photographed by mission commander Neil Armstrong. In the foreground is the Passive Seismic Experiment Package; beyond it is the Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector; in the far right background is the Lunar Module "Eagle." Image credit: NASA

Shuttle Discovery returns to earth

Space Shuttle Discovery returned to Earth Saturday afternoon landing on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

You can watch the landing in the following video:

Discovery's 13-day flight left the international space station with all its solar wings and at full power. The space station crew can now be doubled and more research can be done.

Astronauts performed three spacewalks to hook up the solar wings and perform other chores.

NASA's next shuttle mission, a long-delayed repair effort at the Hubble Space Telescope, is scheduled for May.

Discovery heads for space station

Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 7:43 p.m. EDT Sunday.

Discovery is carrying the space station's fourth and final set of solar array wings. The arrays will provide the electricity to fully power science experiments and support the station's expanded crew of six.

During the 13-day mission, the crew will install the solar array. The crew will also deliver supplies and hardware, and replace a broken machine that turns urine into drinking water.

Discovery should reach the space station Tuesday.

Problems with hydrogen valves delayed the launch for weeks, in February and a hydrogen leak during fueling prevented the launch Wednesday.

NASA's Kepler telescope launched to hunt earth-like planets

A Delta II rocket carrying the Kepler planet-hunting spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Kepler is a space telescope designed to survey distant stars to determine the prevalence of Earth-like planets.

Astronomers already have found more than 300 planets orbiting other stars, usually inhospitable gas giants like Jupiter. Kepler will be looking for smaller rocky planets more similar to Earth:

The goal is to find, if they exist, Earth-like planets circling stars in the so-called habitable zone - orbits where liquid water could be present on the surface of the planets.

[. . .]

Once it's settled into an Earth-trailing orbit around the sun, Kepler will stare nonstop at 100,000 stars near the Cygnus and Lyra constellations, between 600 and 3,000 light years away.

NASA offers these quick facts about the Kepler mission:

• Kepler is the world's first mission with the ability to find true Earth analogs -- planets that orbit stars like our sun in the "habitable zone." The habitable zone is the region around a star where the temperature is just right for water -- an essential ingredient for life as we know it -- to pool on a planet's surface.

• By the end of Kepler's three-and-one-half-year mission, it will give us a good idea of how common or rare other Earths are in our Milky Way galaxy. This will be an important step in answering the age-old question: Are we alone?

• Kepler detects planets by looking for periodic dips in the brightness of stars. Some planets pass in front of their stars as seen from our point of view on Earth; when they do, they cause their stars to dim slightly, an event Kepler can see.

• Kepler has the largest camera ever launched into space, a 95-megapixel array of charge-coupled devices, or CCDs, like those in everyday digital cameras.

• Kepler's telescope is so powerful that, from its view up in space, it could detect one person in a small town turning off a porch light at night.

You can watch the launch in the following video:

Image courtesy of NASA