William Anders, the Apollo 8 astronaut renowned for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” photo in 1968, died on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the age of 90.
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Anders was piloting a plane alone when it crashed into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state.
His son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. “The family is devastated,” he said. “He was a great pilot and we will miss him terribly.”
The crash occurred near the north end of Jones Island. Greg Anders confirmed that his father’s body was recovered Friday afternoon.
Only the pilot was aboard the Beech A45 airplane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the crash.
Anders, a retired major general, considered the “Earthrise” photo his most significant contribution to the space program, alongside ensuring the Apollo 8 command module’s functionality.
The photo, the first color image of Earth from space, is credited with sparking the global environmental movement by highlighting Earth’s fragility.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised Anders, stating he embodied the lessons and purpose of exploration. “He traveled to the threshold of the Moon and helped all of us see something else: ourselves,” Nelson wrote.
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The Apollo 8 mission in December 1968 was the first human spaceflight to leave low-Earth orbit and travel to the moon and back, setting the stage for the Apollo moon landing seven months later.
Anders’ famous photo was taken during the crew’s fourth orbit of the moon. “Oh my God, look at that picture over there!” Anders said at the time. “There’s the Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty!”
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut, noted Anders’ impact: “Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves with his famous Earthrise photo on Apollo 8. He inspired me and generations of astronauts and explorers. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
William Anders had a distinguished career. Born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955 and served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force.
He also served on the Atomic Energy Commission, was the U.S. chairman of the joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. technology exchange program for nuclear power, and as ambassador to Norway. He later worked for General Electric and General Dynamics.
Anders and his wife, Valerie, founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Washington state in 1996. They had six children and 13 grandchildren
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