Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, recently marked a key milestone with its scheduled undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) on September 6. This maneuver was notable as the Starliner returned to Earth without its crew members. Among the main intended future crew members are NASA astronauts such as Sunita Williams, who were not aboard for this specific journey.

The Starliner has had an interesting stint on the ISS. Astronauts aboard managed well with the provisions, initially dining on a menu including fruit and roasted items. However, reports surfaced about resourcefulness during their stay, including consuming a soup made from recycled water, underscoring the challenges of sustaining astronauts in space.

An interesting visual highlight during its mission was captured by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick. From the vantage point of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, he recorded a spectacular time-lapse video showcasing the Starliner flying over dazzling auroras while docked to the ISS, illustrating the unique collaboration and co-existence of the different spacecraft managed by NASA and its partners.

The successful undocking and the insights gathered from this mission feed into Boeing's and NASA's broader plans for the Starliner, reinforcing its pivotal role in transporting astronauts to and from the ISS in the future.