WASHIGTON: William Anders, the astronaut who captured the iconic “Earthrise” photograph during the historic Apollo 8 mission, died in a plane crash on Friday at the age of 90, according to his family.
Anders was piloting a small aircraft when it went down off the coast of Washington state on Friday morning. His son confirmed to US media that Anders was the sole occupant of the plane.Sheriff Eric Peter stated that search teams were combing the crash site, but no body had been recovered at the time of the report.
Anders gained global recognition as part of the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. He, along with Frank Borman and James Lovell, became one of the first humans to orbit the Moon, completing ten laps around the lunar surface without landing.

During one of these orbits, Anders took the “Earthrise” photo, which famously shows the Earth rising over the Moon’s horizon. The image has been hailed as one of the most significant photographs in history and was featured in Life Magazine’s “100 Photographs that Changed The World.” An original print of the photograph fetched 11,800 euros at a Copenhagen auction in 2022.
Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson honored Anders’ legacy on social media platform X, stating, “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.”
Born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, Anders graduated from the US Naval Academy and later earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering. After his illustrious career as an astronaut, Anders held several significant government roles, including serving as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and as the US ambassador to Norway. In the early 1990s, he led the defense and aerospace firm General Dynamics as CEO and chairman before retiring.
Anders’ passing leaves James Lovell, 96, as the last surviving member of the Apollo 8 crew. Lovell, who also played a critical role in the near-catastrophic Apollo 13 mission, remains a revered figure in space exploration history. Frank Borman, the other Apollo 8 astronaut, passed away in November 2023 at the age of 95.
The Apollo 17 mission in 1972 marked the last time humans set foot on the Moon. However, Nasa is planning future missions aimed at returning to the lunar surface, including plans to send the first woman and person of color.
(With agency inputs)