Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has completed its journey back to Earth - but the astronauts it was supposed to be carrying remain behind on the International Space Station. The empty craft travelled in autonomous mode after undocking from the orbiting lab.

Boeing’s Starliner capsule is in the midst of its inaugural crew flight test (CFT) but will complete its mission autonomously.

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft is on track to depart Friday uncrewed from the International Space Station and return to Earth after three months in space. Friday's departure and subsequent landing will end one part of the Starliner's unexpected summer that saw their planned week-or-so at the space station get extended into September.