William Andersfamous for capturing the iconic photograph “ The earthworm » during the mission Apollo 8, died Friday June 7, 2024 at the age of 90. He lost his life in a plane crash in the islands San Juan, northwest of UNITED STATES. The news of his death was confirmed by his son, Gregory Anderswho told CNN that his father was alone at the controls of his plane at the time of the tragedy.
The contribution of William Anders to space exploration is invaluable. In 1968, on board the mission Apollo 8he immortalized one of the most memorable photos in history: the “ The earthworm “. This photograph, taken on Christmas Eve, shows our blue planet standing out from the black of space, with the lunar surface in the foreground. This image transformed our view of Earth and highlighted our place in the universe.
Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, paid tribute to Anders on the social network X, emphasizing the importance of this photo for humanity. “ He gave humanity one of the most precious gifts an astronaut can give. He traveled to the edge of the Moon and helped us all see something else: ourselves “, he wrote. “ We will miss him. »
Mark Kelly, former astronaut and US senator, also expressed his admiration for Anders, saying the famous photo inspired many generations of astronauts and forever changed our perception of the planet.
Before becoming an astronaut, William Anders served as a fighter pilot in the United States Army, demonstrating an exceptional career in the air. His journey within the NASA was marked by the historic Apollo 8 mission, which was the first manned mission to enter lunar orbit, alongside Frank Borman And James Lovell.
