The astronaut who captured the iconic “Earthrise” photo, William A. Anders, has died at the age of 90. Anders was piloting a small plane that tragically crashed into the water near Roche Harbor, Washington, on Friday morning. His son, Greg, confirmed the news of his passing.
A retired major general in the Air Force Reserve, Anders was a major during the historic Apollo 8 mission in 1968, the first manned mission to orbit the moon. This mission made him one of the first humans to leave Earth’s orbit. On Christmas Eve, as the Apollo 8 crew orbited the moon, Anders took the famous “Earthrise” photo, capturing Earth as it rose over the lunar horizon. His exclamation, “Oh my God, look at that picture over there! There’s the Earth comin’ up. Wow, is that pretty!” was recorded on the ship’s onboard tape recorder.
The photograph, titled “Earthrise,” powerfully depicted Earth’s fragility and isolation, resonating deeply with the emerging environmental movement. Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers later said the photo affirmed the movement’s beliefs about the shared responsibility for Earth’s environment and the finite nature of its resources.
In a 2015 interview, Anders reflected on the lasting impact of his photograph, remarking, “Here we came all the way to the moon to discover Earth.” His legacy endures through this image, which continues to inspire and remind us of the planet’s beauty and vulnerability.
Philips Babatunde