NASA remembers Apollo astronaut Williams “Bill” Anders, who died in a plane crash on June 7

killed in a plane crash on June 7

(NASA) – The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the death of Apollo astronaut Major General (ret.) William “Bill” Anders, who died June 7 at the age of 90 in a plane crash in the San Juan Islands, Washington.

“As a member of the Apollo 8 crew and one of the first three people to leave the range of the Earth and orbit the Moon, Bill Anders gave humanity in 1968 one of the greatest gifts an explorer and astronaut can give.

Along with the crew of Apollo 8, Bill was the first to look back at Earth from the cusp of the Moon and show us this breathtaking image – the first of its kind – of the Earth floating in space, illuminated by light and hidden in darkness: Earthrise.

“As Bill so aptly put it after the completion of the Apollo 8 mission, ‘We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.’

“That’s what Bill embodied – the idea that we go into space to learn the mysteries of the universe and, in the process, learn something else: ourselves. He embodied the lessons and purpose of exploration.

“The trip Bill took in 1968 was just one of many remarkable chapters in Bill’s life and service to humanity. In his 26 years of service to our country, Bill was many things – U.S. Air Force officer, astronaut, engineer, ambassador, advisor and much more.

“Bill began his career as an Air Force pilot and was selected to join NASA’s astronaut corps in 1964, where he served as backup pilot for Gemini XI and Apollo 11 and as lunar module pilot for Apollo 8.

“Not only did he see new things, he inspired generation after generation to see new possibilities and new dreams – travel on Earth, in space and in the heavens. As America returns astronauts to the moon as part of the Artemis campaign and eventually ventures on to Mars, we will carry Bill’s memory and legacy with us.

“At every step of Bill’s life was the iron will of a pioneer, the great passion of a visionary, the cool skills of a pilot and the heart of an adventurer who went on a journey of discovery for all of us. His influence will live on for generations. All of NASA and all who look up to the sparkling skies and see great new possibilities for dazzling new dreams will miss a great hero who has left us: Bill Anders.”

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