William Anders, Apollo 8 ‘Earthrise’ Photographer, Dies in Plane Crash

‘The most influential environmental photograph ever taken’
He landed at GE, General Dynamics after leaving space program

William A. Anders, center, with James A. Lovell Jr., left, and Frank Borman, the crew of Apollo 8 on a Kennedy Space Center simulator, Florida, in November 1968.Source: Space Frontiers/Getty Images

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By David Henry

June 7, 2024 at 8:21 PM EDT

Updated on

June 7, 2024 at 9:30 PM EDT

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William Anders, the US astronaut whose “Earthrise” photograph from lunar orbit captured humanity’s humble place in the cosmos, punctuating the 1960s’ race to the moon with one of the most recognized images of the 20th century, has died. He was 90.

Anders was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone crashed into waters near the San Juan Islands in Washington state, the Associated Press reported. His son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, confirmed the death to the AP.