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William Anders

American astronaut and lunar explorer (1933-2024) · United States · Scientists · Died at 90

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One photograph from lunar orbit - Earth rising over the Moon's barren horizon - changed how the species saw home. William Anders, aboard Apollo 8 in December 1968, turned the camera and caught it.

Historical FiguresOtherSpace ExplorationUnited StatesAmericas20th Century

A life in dates

2024Died7 June 20242018“From there, the blue-and-white glory of Earth, the only color amidst the blackness of space, became a beacon.”In their words24 December 201850 Years After 'Earthrise,' a Christmas Eve Message from Its Photographer. Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights, December 24, 2018.

“We set out to explore the moon and instead discovered the Earth.”In their words24 December 201850 Years After 'Earthrise,' a Christmas Eve Message from Its Photographer. Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights, December 24, 2018.

2004National Aviation Hall of FameAward1997“But, the most impressive aspect of the flight was [when] we were in lunar orbit.”In their wordsNASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. Edited and approved by William Anders Oral History Transcript. Interviewed by Paul Rollins

“I’m not that famous, and I’m certainly not glib, so maybe I’d really ought to [get real] work for a living.’...”In their wordsNASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. Edited and approved by William Anders Oral History Transcript. Interviewed by Paul Rollins

“But sooner or later people will be able to buy a ride into space.”In their wordsNASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. Edited and approved by William Anders Oral History Transcript. Interviewed by Paul Rollins

1983International Space Hall of FameAward1969Hubbard MedalAwardNASA Distinguished Service MedalAward1933Born17 October 1933

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

William AndersWilliam AndersAstronaut Group Three - GPN-2000-001476Astronaut Group Three - GPN-2000-001476Astronaut Group Three AnnotatedAstronaut Group Three AnnotatedAstronauts Visit McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope (744057-CC)Astronauts Visit McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope (744057-CC)NASA Astronauts Desert Survival Training - GPN-2002-000014NASA Astronauts Desert Survival Training - GPN-2002-000014ASTRONAUT WILLIAM A. ANDERS - TRAINING - GEOLOGICAL FIELD TRIPASTRONAUT WILLIAM A. ANDERS - TRAINING - GEOLOGICAL FIELD TRIPGemini 8 spacecraft communicators James A Lovell Jr and William A Anders in the MCC (s66-24805)Gemini 8 spacecraft communicators James A Lovell Jr and William A Anders in the MCC (s66-24805)GEMINI-TITAN GT-XI - EXTRA-VEHICULAR ACTIVITY EVA - ASTRONAUT WILLIAM A. ANDERS - TRAINING - PATRICK DVIDS705073GEMINI-TITAN GT-XI - EXTRA-VEHICULAR ACTIVITY EVA - ASTRONAUT WILLIAM A. ANDERS - TRAINING - PATRICK DVIDS705073

In their own words 5

,
William Anders
,
5 statements, newest first

  1. From there, the blue-and-white glory of Earth, the only color amidst the blackness of space, became a beacon.

    Dec 24, 2018, 50 Years After 'Earthrise,' a Christmas Eve Message from Its Photographer. Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights, December 24, 2018., Own words

  2. We set out to explore the moon and instead discovered the Earth.

    Dec 24, 2018, 50 Years After 'Earthrise,' a Christmas Eve Message from Its Photographer. Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights, December 24, 2018., Own words

  3. But, the most impressive aspect of the flight was [when] we were in lunar orbit.

    1997, NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. Edited and approved by William Anders Oral History Transcript. Interviewed by Paul Rollins, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

National Aviation Hall of Fame2004
International Space Hall of Fame1983
NASA Distinguished Service Medal1969
Hubbard Medal1969
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Harmon Trophy
United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
Air Force Commendation Medal
Collier Trophy
Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy
International Air & Space Hall of Fame

About this person

Anders graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955, took an Air Force commission, and flew nuclear-armed interceptors before earning a nuclear engineering degree in 1962. He joined NASA and in December 1968 flew with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell on Apollo 8, the first crew to leave low Earth orbit, circle the Moon ten times, and broadcast live on Christmas Eve. After the mission he served in senior nuclear and aerospace roles: executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ambassador to Norway, and executive posts at General Electric, Textron, and General Dynamics, where he became chairman and CEO in 1991. He retired from the Air Force Reserve as a major general in 1988 and from General Dynamics in 1994. He died in June 2024 when the vintage trainer he was piloting went down near the San Juan Islands.

Country
United States
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1933 to 2024 · aged 90

In common with William

Wernher von BraunBoth received Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial TrophyRobert CrippenBoth received Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial TrophyOwen K. GarriottBoth received Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial TrophyAdam SteltznerBoth received Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy

Scientists from the United States 2

Raymond Kurzweil59.4Leon Theremin59.2

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