Astronaut Frank Culbertson Shares Sept. 11 Experience from Aboard International Space Station in 2001

Astronaut Frank Culbertson, Expedition 3 Commander, shares his experiences aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, in the most recent edition of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex “Tell Me a Story” video series. As the only American not on Earth at the time, Culbertson offers a unique and deeply moving account on the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

We are proud to share this story with you today, on the thirteenth anniversary of this momentous national tragedy.

In this video, 9/11: A Perspective from Space, Culbertson relates how he learned about the attacks that day and saw the devastation wrought in New York City and at the Pentagon from space. Culbertson eventually is told that friend and U.S. Naval Academy classmate Charles “Chic” Burlingame was the pilot of the airplane that was crashed by terrorists into the Pentagon. Culbertson goes on to offer a salute to his friend from the ISS by playing “Taps” on his trumpet.

You can also read the letter that Culbertson wrote following the September 11 attacks here.