Renowned for his critical role as one of the first humans to orbit the moon and for capturing the iconic "Earthrise" photograph during NASA's Apollo 8 mission, retired astronaut William Anders tragically died in a plane crash in Washington state on Friday. He was 90 years old.
The tragic accident occurred when the small aircraft Anders was piloting crashed off the coast of Jones Island, part of the San Juan Islands. Reports from The Seattle Times and KCPQ-TV indicate that Anders was flying a vintage Air Force single-engine T-34 Mentor, which he owned, at the time of the crash.
Eyewitness footage showed the plane descending rapidly before plunging into the water near the shore. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office has yet to officially confirm the crash.
A distinguished alumnus of the US Naval Academy and a former Air Force pilot, Anders joined NASA in 1963 as part of the third group of astronauts. His journey into space commenced on December 21, 1968, when he joined Frank Borman and James Lovell on the historic Apollo 8 mission.
As the least experienced astronaut on the crew, Anders played a pivotal role in the mission, which was the first crewed journey beyond Earth's orbit to the moon. Originally scheduled for 1969, their mission was expedited due to concerns over Soviet advancements in lunar exploration, leaving the crew with limited preparation time.
During their voyage, Anders captured the iconic "Earthrise" photograph, showing Earth rising over the lunar horizon. This image became an enduring symbol of human space exploration. Additionally, Anders led the crew in a reading from the Book of Genesis on Christmas Eve, a moment that was broadcast back to Earth and remains poignant.
Upon their safe return, the Apollo 8 astronauts were celebrated as national heroes and were named Time magazine's "Men of the Year." Their mission paved the way for the Apollo 11 moon landing and provided a morale boost to the United States during a tumultuous era marked by the Vietnam War, civil unrest, and political challenges.
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