New images released by NASA have shown the horrific 9/11 attacks from another angle, on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.
Twenty years after the September 11 terror attacks that killed nearly 3000 men, women and children, NASA is remembering the day, sharing images and memories.
In a satellite image provided by the agency, billowing smoke over the Manhattan area can be seen from space after two of the hijacked planes crashed into the towers of New York City’s World Trade Center.
“The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were a national tragedy that resulted in a staggering loss of life and a significant change in American culture. Each year, we pause and never forget. Beyond remembering and honouring the Americans who died that day, NASA also assisted FEMA in New York in the days afterwards, and remembered the victims by providing flags flown aboard the Space Shuttle to their families,” NASA wrote in a release.
NASA also shared the words of astronaut Frank Culbertson, who was aboard the International Space Station (ISS) at the time of the attacks and the only American on the crew.
He began documenting the event in photographs as the station flew over the New York City area.
“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 post at the time of the attack.
“After reading one of the news articles we just received, I believe we were looking at [New York] around the time of, or shortly after, the collapse of the second tower. How horrible …
“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 wilful, terrible acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are.”
NASA noted that, after the attack, its science programs were “called into action” as the agency worked with FEMA to fly sensors over the affected areas on aircraft – looking for aerial contaminants – and used satellite resources to monitor from above.
To remember the day, NASA flew huge flags on Endeavour’s December 2001 flight to honour the victims. The flags were later distributed to relatives in the summer of 2002.
In addition, NASA used aluminium recovered from the destroyed World Trade Center towers – with the image of an American flag – on rock abrasion tools for the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
“One day, both rovers will be silent. In the cold, dry environments where they have worked on Mars, the on-board memorials to victims of the Sept. 11 attack could remain in good condition for millions of years,” NASA wrote.
Lastly, in 2011, flags from Florida’s Spaceport were sewn into an American Flag – known as “The National 9/11 Flag” – that was recovered near ground zero following the attacks.
This article was originally published by Fox News and was republished with permission