Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore make first public comments since Boeing capsule left without them
Cape Canaveral (US) (AP): Stuck-in-space astronauts Butch Wilmore and Indian-origin Sunita Williams said Friday they appreciated all the prayers and well wishes from strangers back home.
It was their first public comments since last week's return of the Boeing Starliner capsule that took them to the International Space Station in June. They remained behind after NASA determined the problem-plagued capsule posed too much risk for them to ride back in.
Wilmore and Williams are now full-fledged station crew members, chipping in on routine maintenance and experiments. They along with seven others on board welcomed a Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American earlier this week, temporarily raising the station population to 12, a near record.
The two Starliner test pilots — both retired Navy captains and longtime NASA astronauts — will stay at the orbiting laboratory until late February. They have to wait for a SpaceX capsule to bring them back. That spacecraft is due to launch later this month with a reduced crew of two, with two empty seats for Wilmore and Williams for the return leg.
Their Starliner capsule marked the first Boeing spaceflight with astronauts. It endured a series of thruster failures and helium leaks before arriving at the space station on June 6. It landed safely in the New Mexico desert earlier this month, but Boeing's path forward in NASA's commercial crew program remains uncertain.
The space agency hired SpaceX and Boeing as an orbital taxi service a decade ago after the shuttles retired. SpaceX has been flying astronauts since 2020.
VIDEO | Astronauts Sunita Williams (@Astro_Suni) and Butch Wilmore, who are stuck at the International Space Station, interact with the media from space.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 14, 2024
"What we look forward to is being here and being part of the crew that's here. We have been part of expedition 71. They are a… pic.twitter.com/L20ntN8Hli
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Indian couple's ₹5.5 lakh per night stay at Maasai Mara resort stuns internet
New Delhi: An Indian couple has captured the attention of social media with their extraordinary stay at the JW Marriott Masai Mara, a luxury resort in Kenya. Anirban Chowdhury, a credit card enthusiast, shared details of their experience in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that the cost of their stay amounted to an eye-watering ₹5.5 lakh per night, including taxes.
Just ticked off a bucket list experience at one of Marriott's most exclusive and expensive properties—JW Marriott Masai Mara! 🌍💎 If you're dreaming of luxury safaris, this is the place. Stunning tented suites, epic game drives, and personalized service in the heart of the Mara!… pic.twitter.com/rwWv5sk77b
— Anirban chowdhury (@VoyageBliss) September 15, 2024
Chowdhury documented their trip, which featured an all-inclusive package that covered accommodation, meals, selected beverages, bush meals, sundowners, and daily game drives. Additional activities such as horse riding, hot air balloon rides, and Maasai village tours were available at extra cost.
Despite the high cost, Chowdhury secured the stay using Marriott Bonvoy points, disclosing that he used 106,000 points per night for two. He praised the value of the experience, noting that it was worth even more points and that out-of-pocket expenses were minimal unless opting for additional paid activities.
Chalo, it's time for some myth-busting:
— Anirban chowdhury (@VoyageBliss) September 17, 2024
1. The price per night for two isn’t 3.5L, it's actually 5.5L INR with taxes. For 5 nights, that totals 27.5L INR.
2. I offset that cost by using 424,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Marriott has a 5th night free program on award bookings. So,… https://t.co/2ZEPTNDkSd
The post has garnered over 1.5 million views and numerous reactions. Many users expressed amazement at the luxury and expense, with comments ranging from astonishment at the cost to admiration for the luxurious details.
Chowdhury clarified that the total cost for five nights was ₹27.5 lakh, offset by using 424,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, thanks to Marriott's 5th-night-free program. His posts have sparked significant interest and discussion about luxury travel and the use of reward points for high-end experiences.
Some users admired the luxurious details. "This is next-level luxury. The attention to detail sounds incredible!" wrote one user. "I'm saving up my Marriott points just for this-hoping to experience it someday," said another.
