William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut known for taking the iconic “Earthrise” photo in 1968, passed away at the age of 90 after his plane crashed into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. The photo, which showed Earth as a shadowed blue marble from space, is credited with changing how humans viewed the planet and sparking the global environmental movement. Anders’ son confirmed his death and described him as a great pilot. The NASA Administrator and former Sen. Bill Nelson praised Anders for embodying the lessons and purpose of exploration.
During the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968, Anders captured the photo during the crew’s fourth orbit of the moon, switching from black-and-white to color film to capture the Earth. The mission was the first human spaceflight to leave low-Earth orbit and travel to the moon and back, setting the stage for the Apollo moon landing later on. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut, paid tribute to Anders for inspiring generations of astronauts and explorers. The crash of Anders’ plane, a Beech A45, was reported near Jones Island, and only the pilot was on board at the time.
In a 1997 NASA oral history interview, Anders reflected on the risks of the Apollo 8 mission and the importance of exploration. He described seeing Earth from space as a delicate and isolated orb, contrasting with the stark lunar landscape. Anders wished he had taken more photos during the mission, but mission Commander Frank Borman prioritized rest for the crew. University of Hawaii professor Chip Fletcher, who saw the Earthrise photo as a child, spoke about how the image influenced his understanding of humanity and the planet.
Anders, born in Hong Kong in 1933, served as a backup crew for Apollo 11 and Gemini XI but only flew to space during the Apollo 8 mission. He and his wife founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Washington state, which features aircraft, military vehicles, and artifacts donated by veterans. Anders had six children and 13 grandchildren and lived in Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago. Throughout his career, he served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force, worked on nuclear technology exchange programs, served as an ambassador to Norway, and worked for General Electric and General Dynamics.
