Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Who Took ‘Earthrise’ Photo Dies Aged 90

Maj. Gen. Anders was part of the first manned mission to the moon in 1968.

Photo made available by NASA shows the Earth behind the surface of the moon during the Apollo 8 mission, on Dec. 24, 1968. (William Anders/NASA/AP)

By Caden Pearson

6/7/2024

Updated:

6/7/2024

Maj. Gen. William A. Anders, USAF (Ret.), an astronaut who was part of the first Apollo 8 manned mission to the moon, died on Friday at the age of 90 while piloting an aircraft that crashed off the Washington coast.

His son confirmed the news, sharing with NPR that his father was flying solo in a Beech A45 plane when it descended into the waters .

“Our family is devastated. He was a great man and a great pilot,” said Greg Anders.

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The National Transportation Safety Board has announced an investigation into cause of the crash.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson paid tribute to Mr. Anders, recalling the historic “Earthrise” photograph taken from lunar orbit during the Apollo 8 mission.

“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,” Mr. Nelson wrote on social media platform X.