William Anders, Apollo 8 Astronaut, Dies at 90

Former NASA astronaut who took famous Earthrise photo passes away at 77

Anders was part of the first crewed voyage around the Moon

William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble, has died at the age of 90. Anders died on Thursday, June 7, 2024, at his home in the San Juan Islands, according to a statement released by his family.

Anders was born in Hong Kong on October 17, 1933. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1955 and served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He was selected by NASA in 1963 and became an astronaut in 1964.

Anders was assigned to the Apollo 8 mission, which launched on December 21, 1968. The mission was the first crewed voyage around the Moon. Anders, along with crewmates Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, orbited the Moon 10 times and took hundreds of photographs of the lunar surface.

One of the most famous photographs taken by Anders was the Earthrise photo. The photo shows the Earth as a small, blue marble against the backdrop of the Moon. The photo has become an iconic image of the environmental movement and has been used in numerous books, articles, and documentaries.

After the Apollo 8 mission, Anders served as a backup crew member for the Apollo 11 mission, which landed the first humans on the Moon. He retired from NASA in 1972.

Anders was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. He was also inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983.

Anders' death leaves Lovell as the only surviving member of the Apollo 8 crew.