Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash at 90

Former Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders, renowned for capturing the iconic "Earthrise" photograph, passed away at the age of 90 after a small plane crash off the coast of Washington state.

The tragic incident occurred on Friday, leaving the space exploration community mourning the loss of a pioneering figure.

Anders, along with fellow astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell, made history in December 1968 as part of the Apollo 8 mission, becoming among the first humans to orbit the Moon.

His stunning photograph of Earthrise, taken during the mission, remains a symbol of humanity's exploration of space and our place in the cosmos.

Beyond his space endeavors, Anders led a distinguished career in technology and government service, leaving behind a lasting legacy in both space exploration and public service.

"In 1968, during Apollo 8, Bill Anders offered to humanity among the deepest of gifts an astronaut can give," remarked NASA chief Bill Nelson on social media platform X. "He traveled to the threshold of the Moon and helped all of us see something else: ourselves. He embodied the lessons and the purpose of exploration. We will miss him," Nelson added.