Former Apollo 8 astronaut, William Anders, has passed away at the age of 90, sparking an outpouring of tributes for his historic journey to the moon and his iconic photo of Earth.
Anders tragically lost his life while piloting a small plane that crashed between Orcas and Jones Islands in Washington state. The plane, identified as a T-34, plunged into the waters, leading to Anders’ untimely death.
The Beechcraft T-34 crash was reported at 11:40 am local time after it nose-dived into the water before skidding and sinking. Following a search and rescue mission, Anders’ death was confirmed on Friday evening by his son, Greg.
“The family is devastated. He was a great pilot. He will be missed,” a statement from the family read, according to local NBC affiliate KING.
Tributes have poured in for the astronaut, with many remembering him for the iconic “Earthrise” photo he captured during the Apollo 8 mission to the moon.
Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, took to X to share his condolences, highlighting Anders’ significant impact on space exploration.
Anders’ storied career began in 1964 when he was selected as a NASA astronaut.
Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to the space program, including being part of the Apollo 8 mission, where he and his fellow astronauts became the first to see the moon up close.
