NASA Clip Shows 9/11 Attacks from Space

(EndPlay Staff Reports) - Like many other Americans, Frank Culbertson remembers what he was doing when planes struck the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.

His story is perhaps one of the most unique. Culbertson, an astronaut, was aboard the International Space Station with two Russian cosmonauts as the space station happened to be flying over the New York City area.

He had grabbed a video camera, found a window with a good view and started shooting.

NASA has released a video , which includes footage shot by Culbertson and other photos taken from space, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The video also features Culbertson discussing his experiences that day.

"The smoke seemed to have an odd bloom to it at the base of the column that was streaming south of the city," Culbertson wrote in a letter the next day.

He continued to write on Sept. 13.

"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."

The video includes audio from NASA Radio on Sept. 11 where Culbertson said, "I just wanted the folks to know their city still looks very beautiful from space. I know it's very difficult for everybody in America right now. The country still looks good and, for New Yorkers, your city still looks great from up here."

The video features Culbertson's footage as well as scenes taken on the ground of the aftermath of the attacks. Scanner traffic can be heard over a police scanner as officers are told to move away from the building as the second tower collapses.

It is accompanied by musician Sinead O'Connor singing "One More Day," its words haunting in the backdrop with lyrics such as "please save me I've fallen here, I'm lost and alone."

It ends with a view of the Statue of Liberty and the line, "Hey … the sun will rise on one more day."