By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
RebruitRebruitRebruit
  • Latest
  • Finance
  • Technology
  • Security
  • Guides
Reading: William A. Anders the Astronaut Who Captured Earth’s Fragility, dies at 90
Font ResizerAa
RebruitRebruit
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Latest
  • Finance
  • Technology
  • Security
  • Guides
Follow US
  • About
  • Our Standards
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of use
© 2025 REBRUIT | We don’t control content on external sites. Read more about how we handle external links

Home » William A. Anders the Astronaut Who Captured Earth’s Fragility, dies at 90

Latest

William A. Anders the Astronaut Who Captured Earth’s Fragility, dies at 90

Here we came all the way to the moon to discover Earth. A symbol of how a single image resonated more deeply with people than the mission itself.

June 9, 2024
Share
3 Min Read
William A. Anders the Astronaut Who Captured Earth's Fragility, dies at 90
SHARE

William Alison Anders, the astronaut known for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” photo, has died at age 90.

As confirmed by his son Greg, Anders passed away on a Friday morning when the small plane he was piloting crashed into the water near Roche Harbor, Washington.

Born on October 17, 1933, Anders had a distinguished career that spanned military and space exploration. He joined the Air Force and eventually became a major general in the Air Force Reserve.

However, he is best known for his role as a major during NASA’s historic Apollo 8 mission in 1968. This mission was the first to send humans into orbit around the moon, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.

During the mission, on Christmas Eve, Anders and his fellow astronauts, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, took turns photographing the Earth as it rose over the moon’s horizon.

READ ALSO: Students create AI that can guess your location from a single image

Anders was the only one shooting in color, and it was his exclamation, captured on the onboard tape recorder—“Oh my God, look at that picture over there! There’s the Earth comin’ up. Wow, is that pretty!”—that signaled the moment he took the famous “Earthrise” photograph.

William A. Anders the Astronaut Who Captured Earth's Fragility, dies at 90
The Apollo 8 mission became the first to orbit the Moon in December 1968. As the spacecraft emerged from the lunar far side, astronaut William Anders captured an image unlike any seen before.

This photo, which showed the Earth’s delicate and solitary presence in the vastness of space, became a powerful image for the burgeoning environmental movement.

It also showed the fragility and unity of our planet, echoing sentiments that Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers would later voice.

She noted that “Earthrise” confirmed the movement’s belief in the shared nature of Earth’s environment and the finite nature of its resources, highlighting the profound impact of industrial development.

After leaving NASA, Anders continued to serve in various roles, including as chairman and CEO of General Dynamics, a major American aerospace and defense company.

Despite his many accomplishments, he often reflected on the lasting impact of the “Earthrise” photo. In a 2015 interview, he said, “Here we came all the way to the moon to discover Earth,” emphasizing how that single image resonated more deeply with people than the mission itself.

William A. Anders’s legacy extends beyond his contributions to space exploration; he also played a crucial role in raising awareness about our planet’s environment, reminding us of Earth’s beauty and fragility through his lens.

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Bluesky Copy Link
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

iOS 19
What’s Coming in iOS 19: A Fresh Look and Smarter Features
Technology
Block
Square’s Bitcoin Payment Pilot: Bringing Crypto to Everyday Retail
Finance
METAMASK
MetaMask Embraces Solana: A New Era for Multi-Chain Wallets
Finance
Read Smarter, Not Harder
Read Smarter, Not Harder: These Apps Will Help You Read More Anywhere
Guides
Samsung-One-UI-8
15+ New Features Coming to One UI 8
Latest

You Might Also Like

samsung
Latest

Don Belle Boost Samsung Galaxy A-Series Buzz

May 23, 2025
Claude AI
Latest

What You Need to Know About the Claude 4 Release

May 23, 2025
Xperia 1 VII
Latest

Xperia 1 VII: Sony’s Most Creator-Focused Smartphone Yet

May 13, 2025
Apple’s AI Search Move Could Cost Google Billions
Latest

Apple’s AI Search Move Could Cost Google Billions

May 13, 2025
AMD Beats Q1 2025 Expectations, Despite Trade Pressures Between the U.S. and China
Latest

AMD Beats Q1 2025 Expectations, Despite Trade Pressures Between the U.S. and China

May 6, 2025
gtaVI
Latest

Grand Theft Auto VI is officially coming on May 26, 2026

May 6, 2025
WWDC 2025: Here’s what we can expect from Apple in June
Latest

WWDC 2025: Here’s what we can expect from Apple in June

May 5, 2025
Apple and Anthropic Are Teaming Up to Build an AI-Powered Coding Platform
Latest

Apple and Anthropic Are Teaming Up to Build an AI-Powered Coding Platform

May 3, 2025
Follow US
© 2025 REBRUIT | We don’t control content on external sites. Read more about how we handle external links
  • About
  • Our Standards
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of use
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?