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20 years after the September 11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 men, women and children, NASA remembers that day, sharing images and memories.
In a satellite image provided by the agency, smoke can be seen rising over the Manhattan area from space after two of the hijacked planes crashed into New York’s World Trade Center towers. .
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“The attacks of September 11, 2001 were a national tragedy that resulted in staggering loss of life and a significant change in American culture. Every year we take a break and never forget. Beyond remembering and honoring the Americans who died that day, NASA also assisted FEMA in New York in the days that followed and remembered the victims by providing flags aboard the shuttle. space to their families, ”NASA wrote in a statement.
NASA also shared the words of Astronaut Frank Culbertson, who was on board the International Space Station (ISS) at the time of the attacks and the only American on the crew.
Visible from space, a plume of smoke rises from the Manhattan area after two planes crash into the World Trade Center towers. This photo was taken of the New York metropolis (and other parts of New York as well as New Jersey) on the morning of September 11, 2001. “Our prayers and thoughts are with all the people there, and everywhere else. “said Station Commander Frank Culbertson of Expedition 3 after the terrorist attacks.
(Credit: NASA)
He began documenting the event in photographs as the station flew over the New York area.
“The smoke appeared to have a strange bloom at the base of the column that flowed south of the city,” Culbertson wrote in an article at the time of the attack. After reading one of the news articles we just received, I think we were reviewing [New York] at or shortly after the collapse of the second tower. How awful…”
“It’s horrible to see smoke coming out of wounds in your own country from such a fantastic point of view,” he said. “The dichotomy of being on a spaceship dedicated to improving life on earth and watching life destroyed by such willful and terrible acts shakes the psyche no matter who you are.”
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NASA noted that after the attack, its science programs were “put into action” as the agency worked with FEMA to fly sensors over affected areas on planes – in search of air contaminants – and used satellite resources to monitor from above.
To remember the day, NASA displayed nearly 6,000 4-inch by 6-inch flags during Endeavor’s flight in December 2001 to honor the victims. The flags were then distributed to relatives in the summer of 2002.
Additionally, NASA used aluminum salvaged from destroyed World Trade Center towers – with the image of an American flag – on rock abrasion tools for the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
The national 9/11 flag was hoisted above the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex after Florida’s contribution was added.
(Credit: NASA / Kim Shiflett)
“One day the two rovers will be silent. In the cold and dry environments where they worked on Mars, the memorials aboard the victims of the 9/11 attack could remain in good condition for millions of years,” wrote NASA.
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Finally, in 2011, Florida spaceport flags were sewn into an American flag – known as the “National Flag of 9/11” – which was recovered near zero point as a result of the attacks.
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