Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, known for capturing one of the most iconic photographs in outer space, has tragically passed away at the age of 90. The news of his death comes after a small plane he was flying crashed into the water north of Seattle, Washington.
Anders’ son Greg confirmed that his father was piloting the small plane, and his body was recovered on Friday afternoon. The family released a statement expressing their devastation, describing Anders as a great pilot who will be deeply missed.
As a lunar module pilot on the Apollo 8 mission, Anders took the famous Earthrise photograph during the 1968 mission, which showed Earth rising above the horizon from the lunar surface. The image is credited with inspiring the global environmental movement and the creation of Earth Day.
Officials reported that Anders crashed his plane, a Beechcraft A A 45, about 80 feet from the coast of Jones Island. Witnesses described the harrowing moment when the plane appeared to loop and become inverted before crashing into the water in a fiery wreck.
After retiring from the space program, Anders worked in the aerospace industry and served as the US Ambassador to Norway. He is best remembered for his contributions to the Apollo 8 mission and the iconic photograph he captured from space.
Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson and former astronaut turned US Senator Mark Kelly both paid tribute to Anders, highlighting his profound impact on space exploration and inspiring future generations of astronauts and explorers. The legacy of Bill Anders will continue to live on through his groundbreaking work in space exploration.
