Bill Anders, Apollo 8 Astronaut Who Captured Iconic Earthrise Photo, Dies at 94

Anders Flew on the First Manned Mission to Orbit the Moon

His Photograph of the Earth Rising Above the Lunar Horizon Is One of the Most Iconic Images in History

Bill Anders, a NASA astronaut who was part of the 1968 Apollo 8 crew that became the first humans to orbit the Moon, has died at the age of 94. Anders, who passed away on September 26, 2023, was the lunar module pilot for the mission and was responsible for taking the iconic Earthrise photograph, which has become one of the most famous images in history.

Anders' photograph, taken on December 24, 1968, shows the full Earth rising above the lunar horizon. The image was widely hailed as a symbol of human ingenuity and exploration, and has been used countless times in art, literature, and film.

"The Earthrise photograph helped us to see our planet as a whole, and to understand our place in the universe," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "It's a timeless image that continues to inspire generations of explorers and scientists."

Anders was born in Hong Kong in 1929. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1955 and became a fighter pilot. He was selected to join NASA's astronaut corps in 1963 and flew on Apollo 8 as the lunar module pilot.

After leaving NASA, Anders served as a consultant to the National Space Council and as a member of the President's Science Advisory Committee. He also worked as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and as a venture capitalist.

Anders' legacy as an astronaut and photographer will continue to inspire generations to come. His iconic Earthrise photograph is a reminder of the beauty and fragility of our planet, and his work as an explorer and scientist helped to push the boundaries of human knowledge.