William Anders, a pioneering astronaut and member of the Apollo 8 crew, passed away on June 7, 2024 at the age of 90 following a plane crash near Roche Harbor, Washington. Born in Hong Kong in 1933, Anders attended Grossmont High School before graduating from the United States Naval Academy and transferring to the Air Force. He studied nuclear engineering at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and became instrumental in founding Wright State University.
Anders' experience with reactor shielding and radiation effects at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory was a significant factor in his selection as an astronaut, where he investigated radiation effects on space capsules and crews. After leaving NASA, Anders served various roles including executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Atomic Energy Commission appointee, and later chaired the joint US/USSR exchange programme for fission and fusion power.
When nuclear regulation was reorganized in 1975, President Ford appointed him as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He left government service in 1977 to join General Electric as general manager of their nuclear products division, then became head of their aircraft equipment division.
Anders joined Textron's aerospace business and rose to senior executive vice-president in charge of operations for the corporation. In 1990, he became vice-chair of General Dynamics and later chair and CEO.
Anders piloted a small plane that crashed near Roche Harbor, Wash., on June 7, 2024. He is survived by his children.
Anders was part of the Apollo 8 crew in December 1968, which was the first manned mission to orbit the moon. The crew took turns taking photos of Earth as it rose over the lunar horizon, and Anders' color film produced an iconic image known as 'Earthrise.'
Anders was born in Hong Kong and grew up in San Diego county, California. He attended Grossmont High School before graduating from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Anders transferred to the Air Force and studied nuclear engineering at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he became instrumental in founding Wright State University.
His experience with reactor shielding and radiation effects at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory was a factor in his selection as an astronaut, where he investigated radiation effects on space capsules and crews. After leaving NASA, Anders served various roles including executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Atomic Energy Commission appointee, and later chaired the joint US/USSR exchange programme for fission and fusion power.
When nuclear regulation was reorganized in 1975, President Ford appointed him as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He left government service in 1977 to join General Electric as general manager of their nuclear products division, then became head of their aircraft equipment division.
Anders joined Textron's aerospace business and rose to senior executive vice-president in charge of operations for the corporation. In 1990, he became vice-chair of General Dynamics and later chair and CEO.
Anders piloted a small plane that crashed near Roche Harbor, Wash., on June 7, 2024. He is survived by his children.
Anders was part of the Apollo 8 crew in December 1968, which was the first manned mission to orbit the moon. The crew took turns taking photos of Earth as it rose over the lunar horizon, and Anders' color film produced an iconic image known as 'Earthrise.'
Anders' experience with reactor shielding and radiation effects at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory was a significant factor in his selection as an astronaut. He investigated radiation effects on space capsules and crews during his time at NASA.
After leaving NASA, Anders served various roles including executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Atomic Energy Commission appointee, and later chaired the joint US/USSR exchange programme for fission and fusion power.
When nuclear regulation was reorganized in 1975, President Ford appointed him as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He left government service in 1977 to join General Electric as general manager of their nuclear products division, then became head of their aircraft equipment division.
Anders joined Textron's aerospace business and rose to senior executive vice-president in charge of operations for the corporation. In 1990, he became vice-chair of General Dynamics and later chair and CEO.
Anders piloted a small plane that crashed near Roche Harbor, Wash., on June 7, 2024. He is survived by his children.
Anders was part of the Apollo 8 crew in December 1968, which was the first manned mission to orbit the moon. The crew took turns taking photos of Earth as it rose over the lunar horizon, and Anders' color film produced an iconic image known as 'Earthrise.'
Anders' experience with reactor shielding and radiation effects at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory was a significant factor in his selection as an astronaut. He investigated radiation effects on space capsules and crews during his time at NASA.
After leaving NASA, Anders served various roles including executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Atomic Energy Commission appointee, and later chaired the joint US/USSR exchange programme for fission and fusion power.
When nuclear regulation was reorganized in 1975, President Ford appointed him as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He left government service in 1977 to join General Electric as general manager of their nuclear products division, then became head of their aircraft equipment division.
Anders joined Textron's aerospace business and rose to senior executive vice-president in charge of operations for the corporation. In 1990, he became vice-chair of General Dynamics and later chair and CEO.
Anders piloted a small plane that crashed near Roche Harbor, Wash., on June 7, 2024. He is survived by his children.
Anders was part of the Apollo 8 crew in December 1968, which was the first manned mission to orbit the moon. The crew took turns taking photos of Earth as it rose over the lunar horizon, and Anders' color film produced an iconic image known as 'Earthrise.'
Anders' experience with reactor shielding and radiation effects at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory was a significant factor in his selection as an astronaut. He investigated radiation effects on space capsules and crews during his time at NASA.
After leaving NASA, Anders served various roles including executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Atomic Energy Commission appointee, and later chaired the joint US/USSR exchange programme for fission and fusion power.
When nuclear regulation was reorganized in 1975, President Ford appointed him as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He left government service in 1977 to join General Electric as general manager of their nuclear products division, then became head of their aircraft equipment division.
Anders joined Textron's aerospace business and rose to senior executive vice-president in charge of operations for the corporation. In 1990, he became vice-chair of General Dynamics and later chair and CEO.
Anders piloted a small plane that crashed near Roche Harbor, Wash., on June 7, 2024. He is survived by his children.
