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

Seattle, Washington - William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut famous for capturing the iconic "Earthrise" photo from space in 1968, tragically lost his life on Friday when the plane he was piloting crashed into the waters off the San Juan Islands. The 90-year-old astronaut was alone in the aircraft.

The news of Anders' death was confirmed by his son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, who expressed the family's devastation. "He was a great pilot, and we will miss him terribly," he stated.

Anders, a retired major general, considered the "Earthrise" photo as his most significant contribution to the space program, along with his crucial role in ensuring the Apollo 8 command module and service module functioned properly. This photograph, the first color image of Earth from space, had a profound impact on how humans perceived our planet, igniting the global environmental movement by revealing the Earth's delicate and isolated nature.

Former Sen. Bill Nelson, now the NASA Administrator, praised Anders for embodying the purpose of exploration and for his ability to show humanity a different perspective of themselves through his travels to the threshold of the Moon.

Anders took the famous photo during Apollo 8's fourth orbit of the moon, swiftly switching from black-and-white to color film. His exclamation, "Oh my God, look at that picture over there!" captured the awe-inspiring beauty of Earth seen from space.

The Apollo 8 mission in December 1968 marked the first human spaceflight to venture beyond low-Earth orbit and travel to the moon and back, setting the stage for the historic Apollo moon landing that occurred seven months later.

Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut, expressed his admiration for Anders and how he had inspired generations of astronauts and explorers with his groundbreaking "Earthrise" photo. "Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves," Kelly wrote.

The tragic incident occurred when an older-model plane, identified as a Beech A45, crashed into the water near Jones Island in San Juan County. The Federal Aviation Association reported that only Anders was onboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. His body was later recovered. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

In a 1997 NASA oral history interview, Anders acknowledged the risks involved in the Apollo 8 mission but emphasized the importance of national, patriotic, and exploratory reasons for proceeding. He was aware of the uncertainties involved, estimating a one in three chance of failure or success, much like Christopher Columbus's journey.

Anders reflected on how his perspective shifted after seeing the Earth from space, describing it as fragile and seemingly insignificant. He regretted not taking more photos during the mission, but understood the necessity of rest as enforced by mission Commander Frank Borman.

William Anders, born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong where his father served as a Navy lieutenant aboard the USS Panay, devoted his post-NASA years to various ventures. He and his wife, Valerie, founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Washington state in 1996, which showcases 15 aircraft, military vehicles, and artifacts donated by veterans.

The couple moved to Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago in 1993, while also maintaining a residence in San Diego. They had six children and 13 grandchildren.

Anders' passing leaves a deep void in the space exploration community, but his legacy as the visionary behind the "Earthrise" photo and his contributions to the Apollo missions will forever be remembered.