September 11, 2012 at 5:57 pm

Picture of the Day: The Only American Not on Earth on Sept 11

by twistedsifter

 

THE ONLY AMERICAN NOT ON EARTH ON SEPT 11

 

september 11 attacks from space Picture of the Day: The Only American Not on Earth on Sept 11

Photograph by NASA

 

 

FROM NASA: Visible from space, a smoke plume rises from the Manhattan area after two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. This photo was taken of metropolitan New York City (and other parts of New York as well as New Jersey) the morning of September 11, 2001. “Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the people there, and everywhere else,” said Station Commander Frank Culbertson of Expedition 3, after the terrorists’ attacks.

Upon further reflection, Culbertson said, “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.” [Source: NASA]
 
Click here to see Culbertson’s letter from September 11, 2001
Click Here to watch a video of Culbertson remembering 9/11 ten years later

 

 

via NASA