NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick recently shared a breathtaking timelapse video from the International Space Station (ISS), showing the station gliding past a vibrant aurora. The video was captured while Boeing Starliner astronauts conducted crucial in-flight tests before their return to Earth, initially scheduled for June 22.
Dominick’s video, posted over the weekend, featured astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams running tests in preparation for their delayed journey back to Earth. “Timelapse video of aurora streaming behind Starliner taken from a Dragon window with Butch and Suni in the window of Starliner. Their flashlights light up the cabin,” Dominick wrote on X. He added, “We were trying to get the lighting on their faces right to catch a view of them from the Dragon.”
Starliner return delayed
The Starliner’s return has faced multiple delays. Initially set to undock from the ISS on June 14, the spacecraft’s return has been rescheduled to no earlier than June 22. NASA announced the delay to allow the team to finalize departure planning and operations.
Extended mission activities
Docked at the ISS since June 6, the Starliner is part of Boeing’s Crew Flight Test to evaluate its human transportation capabilities. The spacecraft, carrying two NASA astronauts, is expected to land in designated locations in New Mexico or Arizona, six hours after undocking.
During the extended mission, the crew will perform additional hatch operations, repeat ‘safe haven’ tests, and assess piloting using the forward window. “We are continuing to understand the capabilities of Starliner to prepare for the long-term goal of having it perform a six-month docked mission at the space station,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager.