The space community and the world at large mourn the loss of retired Major General William Anders, the Apollo 8 astronaut who took the historic ‘Earthrise’ photograph. Anders, aged 90, died in a plane crash while piloting a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor solo near the San Juan Islands in Washington state. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are conducting an investigation into the crash.Greg Anders, his son, expressed the family’s devastation at the loss of a man who was not only a great pilot but also a pivotal figure in space exploration history. The ‘Earthrise’ image, captured during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, is credited with influencing the global environmental movement by showcasing the planet’s fragility and isolation. Anders’ death is felt as a profound loss, marking the end of a life dedicated to exploration and the advancement of humanity’s perspective on our place in the universe.
Key points
- Retired Major General William Anders, known for the ‘Earthrise’ photograph, died in a plane crash at age 90.
- The crash occurred off the coast of Washington state, and Anders was piloting the plane alone.
- The ‘Earthrise’ photo taken by Anders during the Apollo 8 mission is considered to have sparked the global environmental movement.
