Astronaut recalls space view of terrorist attacks

(CNN) -- The crew of the international space station joined CNN for a live interview Tuesday and offered reflections on the September 11 attacks as well as their nearly completed tour in orbit.

Frank Culbertson, the U.S. commander of space station Alpha, said September 11 began as a normal day, until someone on the ground told them what had happened to the World Trade Center in Manhattan. Soon they were within visual range of the island, 240 miles below.

"We could see the smoke trailing off to the south and a big pall of smoke over the southern part of city," said Culbertson, who along with two Russian crewmates has lived on the orbiting outpost since August.

After Alpha orbited Earth one more time, the trio could see smoke rising from the Pentagon, the second target struck by hijacked airplanes.

"All three (of us were) busy with cameras at the windows trying to record the event and understand for ourselves what was happening. It is still difficult to digest," Culbertson told CNN's Paula Zahn.

VIDEO CNN's Paula Zahn talks with crew members of the International Space Station about what they saw September 11 (November 20) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

The national tragedy became a personal one for Culbertson. Charles F. "Chic" Burlingame III, a friend and classmate from the Naval Academy, was the pilot on one of the doomed American Airline jets.

"Chic was a great guy, and I know how hard he must have fought," Culbertson said.

To hear more from the Alpha crew, which expects to return to Earth on December 10, check out this video of the live interview.