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

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

Keywords:

William Anders
Apollo 8
Earthrise
Plane crash
NASA

William Anders, a former NASA astronaut who took part in the Apollo 8 mission and captured the iconic “Earthrise” photograph, has died in a plane crash at the age of 89.

On December 24, 1968, Anders, along with crewmates Frank Borman and James Lovell, became the first humans to orbit the Moon. During their historic journey, Anders took a series of photographs of Earth, including the now-famous “Earthrise” image.

The photograph, which shows the blue and green orb of Earth rising above the lunar horizon, became one of the most iconic images in human history and played a significant role in raising awareness about environmental issues.

Anders left NASA in 1969 and later pursued a career in business. He remained an influential figure in the space community and was an advocate for space exploration and international cooperation.

On October 27, 2023, Anders died in a plane crash in New Mexico. He was flying a Mooney M20 aircraft when it crashed near the Taos Regional Airport.

Anders’ passing is a great loss to the space community and to all those who were inspired by his iconic photograph. His legacy as an astronaut and photographer will continue to inspire future generations.