Former Astronaut William Anders, the renowned Apollo 8 astronaut who captured the iconic “Earthrise” photo in 1968, tragically died on Friday in a plane crash near the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90 years old.
This Dec. 24, 1968, file photo made available by NASA shows the Earth behind the surface of the moon during the Apollo 8 mission.
The plane, piloted solely by Anders, plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands. His death was confirmed by his son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders. “He was a great pilot, and we will miss him terribly.”
William Anders, a retired major general, was celebrated for his significant contributions to the space program. His most notable achievement was capturing the first colour image of Earth from space during the Apollo 8 mission. The photograph, known as “Earthrise,” is one of the most influential images in modern history. It fundamentally changed humanity’s perspective of our planet, highlighting its fragility and sparking the global environmental movement.
A Historic Photographer- William Anders
The “Earthrise” photo, showing Earth as a shadowed blue marble against the blackness of space, is credited with inspiring a newfound awareness and responsibility toward the environment. NASA Administrator and former Sen. Bill Nelson paid tribute to Anders, stating that he “embodied the lessons and the purpose of exploration. He travelled to the threshold of the Moon and helped all of us see something else: ourselves,” Nelson wrote on social media platform X.
A Life of Exploration and Service
William Anders’ career was marked by a dedication to exploration and service. Beyond his historic spaceflight, he ensured the success and functionality of the Apollo 8 command module and service module. His contributions have left an indelible mark on space exploration and environmental consciousness.
Tributes from around the world have poured in, honouring Anders’ legacy. He is remembered not only as a pioneering astronaut but also as a devoted pilot and family man. His death is a profound loss to the fields of aviation and space exploration.
Check out for other exciting news on our insta handle
