William Anders, a former Apollo 8 astronaut known for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” image, tragically passed away in a plane crash off the coast of Washington state. The 90-year-old pilot was flying a Beech A45 when the accident occurred.
Greg Anders, his son, confirmed the devastating news to CBS News, stating that the plane belonged to his father. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the incident, which took place near Roche Harbor on San Juan Island.
Born in Hong Kong on October 17, 1933, William Anders attended the U.S. Naval Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology before being selected as an astronaut in the NASA space program in 1964. He accumulated over 6,000 hours of flying time throughout his career.
Anders played a significant role in the Apollo missions. As a lunar module pilot for Apollo 8, he and his fellow astronauts, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, became the first humans to leave Earth’s orbit. On Christmas Eve in 1968, while orbiting the moon, Anders captured the breathtaking “Earthrise” photograph, depicting our planet suspended in the vastness of space. This image became an iconic symbol for the environmental movement.
Apollo 8 is often regarded as the most daring of all the Apollo missions. The astronauts launched atop the powerful Saturn 5 rocket, making them the first to visit another world, albeit from a distance. Their groundbreaking mission paved the way for the historic Apollo 11 moon landing in the following year.
Upon hearing the news of Anders’ passing, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson took to social media to express his condolences. He acknowledged Anders’ significant contribution to space exploration, stating that he “traveled to the threshold of the Moon” and helped humanity see themselves in a new light. Nelson emphasized that Anders embodied the spirit of exploration and would be deeply missed.
