Former Air Force Major General And Nuclear Engineer Remembered For Historic Space Mission

William Anders, Apollo 8 Astronaut and Creator of the Iconic Earthrise Photograph, Dies at 90

Former Air Force Major General and Nuclear Engineer Remembered for Historic Space Mission

July 20, 1969: A Day That Changed Our Perspective of Earth

William Alison Anders, who served as an electrical engineer, nuclear engineer, and United States Air Force major general, passed away on June 7, 2024, at the age of 90. As an astronaut on the Apollo 8 mission, Anders was one of the first three humans to orbit the Moon.

On July 20, 1969, Anders took the iconic "Earthrise" photograph. This image, showing the Earth as a blue and white sphere against the black void of space, became one of the most defining images of the 20th century. The photo forever changed our perspective of our planet and highlighted the fragility of our home in the cosmos.