WEB William Anders, Apollo 8 Astronaut Who Captured Earthrise Photo, Dies at 90
Legendary astronaut's passing marks the end of an era
Anders' iconic photograph forever changed our perspective of Earth
WEB William Anders, the NASA astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photograph showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble, has died in a plane crash at the age of 90. Anders was part of the 1968 Apollo 8 crew that made history by becoming the first three people to orbit the moon.
Anders was born in Hong Kong on October 17, 1933. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1955 and served as a fighter pilot in the US Air Force. In 1963, he was selected as an astronaut and joined NASA's Apollo program.
Anders' most famous moment came during the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. As the crew orbited the moon, Anders took a photograph of Earth rising over the lunar horizon. The image, known as "Earthrise," became one of the most iconic photographs of all time and helped to inspire the environmental movement.
After Apollo 8, Anders served as the backup commander for Apollo 11, the mission that landed the first humans on the moon. He retired from NASA in 1971 and went on to work as an environmental consultant.
Anders' legacy will live on through his iconic photograph and his tireless work to protect our planet. His death marks the end of an era, but his spirit will continue to inspire generations to come.
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