Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders, Taker of Iconic Earthrise Photo, Dies in Plane Crash

Anders, 90, Was on the Mission That Circled the Moon for the First Time

The Legendary Photo Captured the Fragility and Beauty of Earth

William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a blue marble against the black void of space, has died in a plane crash at the age of 90.

Anders was part of the Apollo 8 crew that became the first three people to orbit the moon in 1968. The Earthrise photo, which Anders took on Christmas Eve, has become one of the most iconic images in human history, capturing the fragility and beauty of our planet.

Anders was a highly decorated Air Force major general and electrical engineer. He was born in Hong Kong and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He flew 100 combat missions during the Vietnam War and served as commander of the European Space Research Organization.

After his retirement from NASA, Anders worked as a consultant for various aerospace companies and was a vocal advocate for space exploration. He also served on the board of directors for the National Space Society.

Anders' death is a great loss to the space community and to the world. His iconic photo will continue to inspire generations to come.