Renowned astronaut William Anders, famous for his iconic Earthrise photo taken during the Apollo 8 mission, tragically passed away at the age of 90 in a plane crash in Washington state.
Anders was piloting a small plane when it crashed into the waters between Orcas and Jones Islands on Friday. The crash was captured on video by a passerby, showing the plane nose-diving before skidding on the surface and sinking with a dark cloud of smoke billowing around it.
As one of the first three people to see the moon on the historic Apollo 8 mission, Anders snapped the photo known as Earthrise, which showcased the view of Earth from the moon. Tributes have poured in for the late astronaut, with many remembering him for the powerful image he captured.
A former astronaut, Senator Mark Kelly, expressed his condolences on social media, acknowledging Anders’ impact on space exploration and inspiring generations of astronauts and explorers. Others also paid tribute to Anders’ storied career and contributions to the space program.
Anders, who retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1988, went on to serve as chairman and CEO of General Dynamics Corporation. He and his wife, Valerie, resided on Orcas Island, where they raised six children and had 13 grandchildren.
The Apollo 8 mission, launched in 1968, was the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth’s gravitational pull and reach the Moon. Anders, along with fellow astronauts Jim Lovell and Frank Borman, orbited the Moon ten times during the historic voyage, making history and paving the way for future space explorations. Rest in peace, William Anders, a true pioneer and hero.
