Former Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash at 90

Former Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash at 90

[New York, August 27, 2023]

Former Apollo 8 astronaut and renowned photographer William Anders has tragically passed away in an airplane crash at the age of 90.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Anders’ plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Colorado. Anders was the sole occupant of the aircraft.

The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash, but no details have been released as of yet.

Born in 1933, Anders was a decorated Air Force pilot who joined NASA in 1963. He was selected as a member of the Apollo 8 crew, which became the first manned mission to orbit the Moon in 1968.

Anders’ most iconic photograph, known as “Earthrise,” was taken during the Apollo 8 mission and depicted the Earth as a small, blue sphere rising above the lunar horizon. The image became a symbol of the fragility and beauty of our planet.

After his retirement from NASA in 1971, Anders served as a consultant and environmental advocate. He wrote extensively about space exploration and its impact on human consciousness.

Anders’ contributions to space exploration and his legacy as a renowned photographer will be forever remembered. His passing is a great loss to the world.

Keywords:

William Anders
Apollo 8
Plane crash
Earthrise
NASA
Environmental advocate