By Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut renowned for his iconic “Earthrise” photograph, which depicted Earth as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, died on Friday when the plane he was piloting alone crashed into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90 years old.
Anders’ son, Greg Anders, confirmed his father’s death to CBS News, stating that the plane involved in the crash belonged to the former astronaut. San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter reported that crews were searching the area but had not yet recovered a body. The incident occurred around 11:40 a.m. when an older-model Beech A45 airplane, with only the pilot on board, plummeted into the water and sank near the north end of Jones Island.
Born in Hong Kong on October 17, 1933, Anders attended the U.S. Naval Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology before being selected as an astronaut in the NASA space program in 1964. With over 6,000 hours of flying time, he served as a backup pilot on the Gemini XI and Apollo 11 flights and as a lunar module pilot for Apollo 8.
Anders considered the “Earthrise” photo his most significant contribution to the space program, citing its ecological and philosophical impact. In a 1997 NASA oral history interview, he recounted the fragile and seemingly insignificant appearance of Earth from space, yet emphasized its importance as home.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson paid tribute to Anders on social media, stating that he “traveled to the threshold of the Moon” and helped all of us see ourselves, embodying the lessons and purpose of exploration.
Anders acknowledged the risks associated with the Apollo 8 mission but believed there were important national, patriotic, and exploratory reasons for proceeding. He estimated a one-in-three chance of the crew not making it back, a one-in-three chance of mission success, and a one-in-three chance of the mission not starting at all, suggesting that Christopher Columbus likely sailed with worse odds.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the plane crash that claimed Anders’ life. As the world mourns the loss of this pioneering astronaut and photographer, his legacy endures through the iconic “Earthrise” image, which continues to inspire awe and reflection on our place in the universe.
Credit: CBS
