Former Apollo 8 astronaut - William Anders - dies in a plane crash

The retired former Apollo 8 astronaut, who took the iconic "Earthrise" picture in 1968, showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble, died at plane crush at 90 years old. The plane, as confirmed his son, belonged to Anders. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the crash.

Without him, the Earth from space would not look the same, quite literally. The picture of Earth looking like a shadowed blue marble has become an icon and emblem of the planet in images taken from space. Despite the photo being taken in 1968, several generations can immediately recognize it and associate it with Apollo 8. Today, Gen. Bill Anders died in a plane crash at age 90. The plane he was piloting alone crashed into the waters of the San Juan Islands in Washington state at about 11:40 pm local time. According to the information provided by San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter to CBSN, the body has already been found, but official identification is yet required.

However, his son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, confirmed the death. He said, "The family is devastated. He was a great pilot, and we will miss him terribly."

William Anders believed "the photo was his most significant contribution to the space program, given the ecological philosophical impact it had, along with making sure the Apollo 8 command module and service module worked." As a part of a BBC documentary, he recalled the process of taking the iconic picture: "We’d been going backwards and upside down, didn’t really see the Earth or the sun, and when we rolled around and came around and saw the first Earthrise," adding later "That certainly was, by far, the most impressive thing. To see this very delicate, colorful orb, which to me looked like a Christmas tree ornament coming up over this very stark, ugly lunar landscape, really contrasted."

The condolences have already been posted by Bill Nelson, NASA Senator representing Florida from the Democratic Party. In a touching post, he wrote: In 1968, during Apollo 8, Bill Anders offered to humanity among the deepest of gifts an astronaut can give. He traveled to the Moon's threshold and helped us see something else: ourselves. He embodied the lessons and the purpose of exploration. We will miss him.

Sources: The Guardian, CBNC, NBC, PBS