Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders, Who Took Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Photo, Dies in Plane Crash

Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders, Who Took Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Photo, Dies in Plane Crash

Keywords: Apollo 8, Earthrise, William Anders, Plane Crash

Washington, D.C.: William Anders, one of the three astronauts aboard the Apollo 8 mission who took the iconic “Earthrise” photograph, has died at the age of 93.

Anders was a command module pilot on the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, which became the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon. During the mission, Anders took the famous “Earthrise” photo, which depicts the Earth rising over the lunar horizon.

The “Earthrise” photo became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century and helped inspire the environmental movement. It is often credited with raising awareness of the fragility and beauty of our planet.

After the Apollo 8 mission, Anders worked as an environmental advocate and nuclear disarmament proponent. He served as chairman of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Senior Scientific Advisory Committee and the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency’s General Advisory Committee.

According to reports, Anders died in a plane crash on August 13, 2023. The plane was a small, private plane that crashed in Avon, Colorado. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Anders’ death is a loss to the space community and the world. His legacy as an astronaut, environmentalist, and peace advocate will continue to inspire generations to come.