Astronaut William Anders, famous for ‘Earthrise’ photo, dies in plane crash | US News
The astronaut who captured the famous first colour photo of the Earth from space has passed away in a plane crash in the US.
William Anders, 90, was the sole person aboard the small aircraft he was piloting when it crashed off the coast of Jones Island, near Washington state, on Friday.
His son, Greg Anders, confirmed the death, expressing that the family is “devastated”.
“He was a skilled pilot and we will deeply miss him,” he added.
Mr Anders orbited the moon with Apollo 8 in December 1968, marking the first human spaceflight to venture beyond Earth’s orbit.
During the mission, Mr Anders captured what became one of the most iconic photographs ever taken, showing Earth rising over the lunar horizon.
He shared in a 1997 NASA oral history interview his belief that there was a one in three chance the crew wouldn’t make it back, but also an equal chance of success.
He likened the odds to Christopher Columbus’ journey across the ocean.
William Anders pictured in 2004. Pic: AP
Despite the risks, he believed in the importance of the national, patriotic, and exploratory reasons for proceeding with the mission.
“We’d been going backwards and upside down, didn’t really see the Earth or the Sun, and when we rolled around and came around and saw the first Earthrise,” he added.
“That certainly was, by far, the most impressive thing.
“To see this very delicate, colourful orb, which to me looked like a Christmas tree ornament coming up over this very stark, ugly lunar landscape really contrasted.”
That photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement for showing how delicate and isolated Earth appeared from space.
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Their mission set the stage for the first moon landing by Apollo 11 seven months later, when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.
It was also praised for boosting national morale at the end of one of the US’s most challenging years, marked by the Vietnam War, domestic unrest, and assassinations.
Senator Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut, remarked: “Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves with his famous Earthrise photo on Apollo 8.
“He inspired me and generations of astronauts and explorers. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
