On June 7, 2024, Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders died in a plane crash in Washington's San Juan Islands. He was 90 years old.
Anders was piloting his vintage T-34 Mentor when the crash occurred between Orcas and Jones islands around 11:45 a.m.
Born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, Anders grew up in San Diego. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1955.
In 1964, Anders was selected by NASA. His expertise led him to serve as the lunar module pilot for the historic Apollo 8 mission in 1968.
Apollo 8 marked humanity's first venture into lunar orbit. Anders, along with Frank Borman and James Lovell, made history.
Anders captured the iconic "Earthrise" photo, the first color image of Earth from space, sparking global environmental awareness.
After retiring from the Air Force Reserves in 1988, Anders became CEO of General Dynamics and founded the Heritage Flight Museum in 1996.
Viewing Earth from space profoundly impacted Anders. He often spoke about the planet's beauty and fragility, reinforcing his environmental commitment.
NASA and fellow astronauts mourned his loss. William Anders' legacy of exploration, courage, and environmental advocacy continues to inspire.