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Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders, 'Earthrise' Photographer, Dies in Plane Crash Near Seattle at 90

Jun 8, 2024, 12:57 AM

William Anders, the retired astronaut known for his iconic 'Earthrise' photograph taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, has died at the age of 90. Anders was piloting a vintage T-34 Mentor plane when it crashed near Orcas Island, Washington, in the San Juan Islands near Seattle. The crash occurred on Friday, and Anders was confirmed dead at the scene. Anders was a significant figure in space exploration history, being part of the first manned mission to orbit the moon. His photograph, 'Earthrise,' is considered one of the most famous images in the world and has been credited with inspiring the environmental movement.