Maj. Gen. William A. Anders, an astronaut who flew on the historic Apollo 8 mission, the first manned spaceflight to orbit the moon, died on Friday at the age of 90.

The tragedy occurred when a small plane he was piloting crashed into the water near Roche Harbor, Washington. His son Greg confirmed the death.

The Fatal Crash

The crash happened at approximately 11:40 a.m., involving General Anders’s Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. 

The U.S. Coast Guard reported that a search crew recovered a body from the crash site on Friday evening.

A Historic Space Mission

In December 1968, Major Anders, then a major in the Air Force, joined Col. Frank Borman and Capt. James A. Lovell Jr. of the Navy on Apollo 8. They were the first astronauts to leave Earth’s orbit and circle the moon, a mission that prepared for the subsequent Apollo 11 moon landing.

A Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo 8 mission, which produced significant still images and moving pictures of the lunar surface. Beyond their scientific accomplishments, the Apollo 8 mission lifted American spirits during a turbulent time that saw the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, and widespread social unrest.

The Iconic “Earthrise” Photograph

On Christmas Eve, during their 10 orbits of the moon, Anders captured the iconic “Earthrise” photograph. This image of Earth rising over the lunar horizon, appearing as a blue marble against the blackness of space, became a symbol of the environmental movement. 

It was featured on a 1969 U.S. postage stamp with the words “In the beginning, God…” and on the cover of Life magazine’s 2003 book “100 Photographs That Changed the World.”

Reflecting on the significance of the photograph, General Anders said in a 2015 interview, “The view points out the beauty of Earth and its fragility. It helped kick start the environmental movement.”

Early Life and Military Career

William Alison Anders was born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong. His father, Lt. Arthur Anders, served as an officer on the gunboat Panay, patrolling the Yangtze River in China. After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Anders and his mother fled to the Philippines. 

His father was later awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery during the Panay Incident, where Japanese planes bombed the boat, escalating tensions that led to World War II.

Anders returned to the United States, attended Grossmont High School in California, and developed a fascination with exploration. 

Following in his father’s footsteps, he entered the Naval Academy and graduated in 1955. Choosing the Air Force for its advanced aeronautical opportunities, he became a fighter pilot and earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering in 1962.

NASA and Beyond

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1963, Anders specialized in space radiation and trained in the lunar lander module. Although Apollo 8 was his only spaceflight, the mission’s success was celebrated with parades and recognition, including an address to a joint session of Congress.

Anders retired from NASA and active duty in 1969, serving as executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council and later holding prominent roles in the Atomic Energy Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and as ambassador to Norway. 

He also held executive positions at General Electric and Textron and led General Dynamics as chairman and CEO.

Personal Life and Legacy

The surviving members of General Anders’ family include his wife Valerie (Hoard) Anders, sons Greg, Alan, Glen, and Eric, daughters Gayle and Diana, and 13 grandchildren.

The couple founded a flight museum in Washington State in 1996. Despite never walking on the moon, Anders’s contributions to space exploration and his iconic “Earthrise” photograph have left an indelible mark on history. 

He often contrasted the moon’s “dirty beach” surface with the vibrant beauty of Earth, captured forever in his famous photograph. In remembering General Anders, we honor not only his pioneering spirit and contributions to space exploration but also his lasting impact on our understanding of Earth and its place in the cosmos.

The information is taken from BBC and CNN