Iconic Apollo 8 Astronaut Bill Anders Dies in Plane Crash: Remembered for Earthrise Photo

Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, renowned for capturing one of the most iconic photographs from outer space, has passed away at 90. Reports indicate that the small plane he was piloting crashed into the waters north of Seattle, Washington.

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Anders’ son, Greg, confirmed his father’s involvement in the crash, and his body was recovered on Friday afternoon. The family expressed profound grief, highlighting Anders’ prowess as a pilot and his significant contributions.

As a lunar module pilot during the historic Apollo 8 mission, Anders immortalized the Earthrise photograph, taken on Christmas Eve in 1968. This image, showing Earth rising above the lunar horizon, has had a profound impact on the global environmental movement and inspired the creation of Earth Day.

Anders, reflecting on the moment, emphasized the profound realization of Earth’s significance from the vantage point of space, stating, “We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing that we discovered was the Earth.”

The crash occurred around 11:40 PDT, involving a Beechcraft A45, also known as a T-34, about 80 feet from the coast of Jones Island. Witnesses described the plane’s erratic maneuvers before the tragic crash, with footage capturing the harrowing moments.

In addition to his role in Apollo 8, Anders served as the backup pilot for the Apollo 11 mission, which culminated in the first Moon landing. Following his retirement from the space program, he made significant contributions to the aerospace industry and served as the US Ambassador to Norway.

Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson and former astronaut turned US Senator Mark Kelly paid tribute to Anders, recognizing his indelible mark on space exploration and his enduring legacy as a visionary.