Posted on 06/08/2024 6:41:41 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
SEATTLE (AP) — Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. His son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, confirmed the death to The Associated Press.
“The family is devastated,” Greg Anders said. “He was a great pilot and we will miss him terribly.”
William Anders has said the photo was his most significant contribution to the space program, given the ecological philosophical impact it had, along with making sure the Apollo 8 command module and service module worked.
The photograph, the first color image of Earth from space, is one of the most important photos in modern history for the way it changed how humans viewed the planet. The photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement for showing how delicate and isolated Earth appeared from space.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who is also a retired NASA astronaut, wrote on the social platform X: “Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves with his famous Earthrise photo on Apollo 8. He inspired me and generations of astronauts and explorers. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
A report came in around 11:40 a.m. that an older-model plane crashed into the water and sank near the north end of Jones Island, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter said.
Only the pilot was on board the Beech A45 airplane at the time, according to the Federal Aviation Association.
The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the crash.
(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...
Gives us some perspective.
If he wasn’t practicing aerobatics, it was suicide.
RIP Maj Gen William Anders.
Kudos to him for his many accomplishments. And still flying solo at 90? Wow! We had to take away my dad's driver's license when he was ninety.
I wonder... is that how he wanted to go out? It's better than hospice, IMHO.
Apollo 8... they saved 1968.
He could have had a seizure or a cardiac event or ... who knows?
Only God knows.
True.
True, hopefully he didn’t suffer too badly before the plane crashed.
Could have simply been heart failure.
He could have had a seizure or a cardiac event or ... who knows?
If true, that’s the way to go out. Luckily no one else was hurt.
That was my first computer desktop background image, that I kept for at least a year or two.
RIP Sir.
Makes me wonder what happened since the guy was an ace pilot - but was also 90 years old.
Near vertical atttude
It’s the lack of perspective that makes the Earth look so small, actually. ;-)
Living until 90 and going out doing what you loved to do... We should all be so fortunate. RIP William Anders.
He could have had a seizure or a cardiac event..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good point... had he been EGT’d? It’s the main reason I avoid commercial planes... they were forced to take the shots.
Such a simple shot...and so classy.
Thanks for posting.
That’s what I’m thinking. No reason in hell for diving straight down like that. Looks like tried to pull up at last moment but way too late for change of heart.
That’s what I’m thinking. No reason in hell for diving straight down like that. Looks like tried to pull up at last moment but way too late for change of heart.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.