NASA astronaut William Anders died in a plane crash in Washington

NASA astronaut William Bill Anders, who was part of the Apollo 8 mission, died at the age of 90 years in a plane crash in Washington. He was one of the first three people to orbit the moon and take an Earthrise image in 1968 during the Apollo 8 mission.

He captured a famous image of Earthrise in 1968, showing the world as a shadowy blue marble from space. Earthrise image was of Earth and part of the Moon’s surface taken from lunar orbit.

Bill Nelson is a former Senator and NASA Administrator. He stated William offered humanity the greatest gifts he could give with his Apollo 8 mission. According to Bill, William represented the lessons and goals of space exploration. He went to Moon’s threshold and helped them all see something else.

In 1968, during Apollo 8, Bill Anders offered to humanity among the deepest of gifts an astronaut can give. He traveled to the threshold of the Moon and helped all of us see something else: ourselves. He embodied the lessons and the purpose of exploration. We will miss him. pic.twitter.com/wuCmfHpu3g
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) June 8, 2024

William Anders was also an American former United States Air Force Major General. His son retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Greg Anders confirmed the news of his father’s death. He stated the family is heartbroken at the demise of his father. He was an excellent pilot. They will deeply miss him.

Former NASA astronaut William Anders was flying the plane himself on June 7, 2024, when it crashed into the waters of the San Juan Islands, and he ultimately died.

*William Anders (left) famous for his successful Apollo 8 mission*

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His popularity among people was his Earthrise image during the Apollo 8 mission. He stated in his lifetime that taking an Earthrise image was his most significant contribution to the space program while ensuring the service module for Apollo 8 worked.

Those were some of the most significant images in modern history. It was also the first color image of Earth taken from space. Hence, it fundamentally changed the way people see the planet.

People consider that image started the global environmental movement because it showed how fragile and alone Earth looked from space.