the 9/11 attacks seen from space

“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.” 

“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.”

L'astronaute Frank Culbertson était le seul Américain à ne pas être sur Terre lors des attaques du 11 septembre.

A ce moment-là, il survolait la côte est des Etats Unis et prit cette photo. Et écrivit une lettre, adressée à sa famille et au monde entier.

Astronaut Frank Culbertson letter from September 11, 2001.