One of NASA's two previously stuck astronauts has retired.

As recovery boats waited for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts returning home, one animal had a front-row seat for the splashdown.

The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group. Vice President Mike Pence introduced the astronauts Wednesday at the close of his final meeting as chairman of the National Space Council. The space agency is aiming for a moon landing by 2024, although the chances of that happening are growing increasingly dim. Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. “The history is awesome, but we’re here to look toward the future,” Acaba told reporters after the announcement.