Maj. General (Ret.) William Anders, a celebrated NASA astronaut and a pivotal figure in the historic Apollo 8 mission, tragically lost his life on June 7th at the age of 90 in a plane crash off the coast of Jones Island, Washington. The incident, witnessed by several bystanders, brought a somber end to the life of a man who had spent much of it reaching for the skies.
The United States Coast Guard, alongside multiple agencies, embarked on a comprehensive search operation covering 215 nautical miles. Their efforts culminated in the recovery of Anders’ body by a dive team. At the time of the crash, Anders was piloting a T-34 Mentor aircraft owned by the Heritage Flight Museum, an organization established by his family foundation. according to FlightAware, the aircraft departed Skagit Regional Airport just prior to the crash at 11:17AM.
Born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, William Anders embarked on an illustrious career following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1955. Commissioned in the US Air Force, Anders earned his pilot wings in 1956 and served as a fighter pilot in the Air Defense Command, with assignments in California and Iceland. His expertise extended to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory in New Mexico, where he managed programs related to nuclear power reactor shielding and radiation effects.
In 1964, Anders was selected as an astronaut by NASA. He served as a backup pilot for the Gemini 11 mission in 1966 and for the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Over the course of his career, Anders logged over 8,000 flight hours, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to aviation and space exploration.
Anders is perhaps best known for his role as the lunar module pilot on Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon. In December 1968, Anders, along with Mission Commander Jim Lovell and Command Module Pilot Frank Borman, became the first humans to witness the far side of the Moon with their own eyes. During this historic mission, Anders captured the iconic “Earthrise” photograph, showing Earth rising above the Moon’s surface on Christmas Eve, 1968.
As the crew emerged from the dark side of the Moon, Anders exclaimed, “Oh, my God! Look at that picture over there! Here’s the Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty!” This image, one of the first detailed color photographs of Earth from lunar orbit, became a powerful symbol of the planet’s fragility and beauty.
It was during this mission that Commander Jim Lovell famously held up his thumb and covered the entire Earth, contemplating the vastness of space and the insignificance of humanity’s presence in it. On Christmas Eve, during a live television broadcast, the Apollo 8 crew read the opening verses from the Book of Genesis, a message that resonated deeply with people worldwide. Anders began, “For all the people on Earth the crew of Apollo 8 has a message we would like to send you.” He read, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”
The broadcast concluded with Borman’s heartfelt message: “And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth.” This profound moment of unity and reflection came at a time when the United States was grappling with political and social turmoil during the Vietnam War.
Reflecting on the mission’s impact, Anders famously said, “We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.” His photograph and this sentiment underscored the mission’s enduring legacy, shifting the perspective on humanity’s place in the universe.
After his tenure at NASA, Anders served as Executive Secretary for the National Aeronautics and Space Council until 1973. President Gerald Ford later appointed him as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Throughout his distinguished career, Anders received numerous accolades, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.
Anders, together with his wife Valerie, raised six children. He founded the William A. Anders Foundation, which focuses on educational and environmental issues, and in 1996, he established the Heritage Flight Museum, which continues to be managed by the Anders family.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson paid tribute to Anders’ legacy, stating on social media, “Bill Anders offered to humanity among the deepest of gifts an astronaut can give. 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.”
William Anders’ life and achievements have left an indelible mark on space exploration and on humanity’s understanding of its place in the cosmos. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations to look beyond and explore the unknown.
