20 years on from 9/11: How a NASA astronaut witnessed the dastardly attacks from space

attacks of September 11, 2001, were an American national trdy triggered by terror outfit al-Qaeda, which resulted in loss of lives of thousands of people and changed American culture forever.

Interestingly, at time when 9/11 attack took place, NASA had a crew in outer , which began to monitor event as soon as y were informed about incident. Expedition 3 Commander Frank Culbertson was stationed at International Station and was only American on crew.

story of Astronaut Frank Culbertson

As Commander Frank Culbertson was at International Station when he was informed about attacks, he began to closely observe terror attack by capturing photographs. Luckily, station was hovering over Manhattan area, thus it made process a bit easier. He captured many ims during attack and saw world change within minutes in front of him.

Astronaut Frank Culbertson (in middle) and his crew

NASA released a video on ir YouTube channel back in 2013 where y first revealed that International Station had documented terror attack. video is also an emotional tribute to lives lost during 9/11 attacks and talks about how NASA collaborated with American Government and military for or high-profile missions like infiltrating Afghanistan. Station Astronaut Frank Culbertson again talks about his observations and breath-taking ims he clicked from ISS of 9/11 attacks.

Later, he talked regarding ims he clicked, " smoke seemed to have an odd bloom to it at base of column that was streaming south of city. After reading one of news articles we just received, I believe we were looking at NY around time of, or shortly after, collapse of second tower. How horrible!”

He furr said that before he was informed about attack, he looked at debris and saw a big cloud of dust and smoke across Manhattan Area. He said that after seeing aftermath of attack, it was too painful for him because it was like a “wound in side of your country, of your family or of your friends.”'

9/11 attacks as seen from

NASA wanted to pay a proper tribute to victims of 9/11 attack and did exactly on tenth anniversary of attack by taking an American flag on metal recovered from site of World Trade Centre towers and placing it on surface of planet Mars. flag was recovered shortly after destruction of towers on Sept. 11, 2001, and it was taken to Mars on Sept. 11, 2011.

NASA later said, “NASA wanted to come up with an appropriate tribute to people who lost ir lives in tragic events of September 11. America's program has a long history of carrying items into to commemorate historic events, acts of cour and dramatic achievements.”