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William A. Anders

Anders took the “Earthrise” photo while in lunar orbit on December 24, 1968.

Quick Facts

William Anders was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 8.

William Anders was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 8.

On Christmas Eve in 1968, William Anders turned his camera toward Earth and captured the legendary Earthrise photo.

On Christmas Eve in 1968, William Anders turned his camera toward Earth and captured the legendary Earthrise photo.

After leaving NASA, Anders was named as U. S. Chairman of the joint US/USSR technology exchange program for nuclear fission and fusion power.

After leaving NASA, Anders was named as U. S. Chairman of the joint US/USSR technology exchange program for nuclear fission and fusion power.

Biography

William A. Anders

He was backup pilot for the Gemini XI, Apollo 11 flights, and was lunar module pilot for Apollo 8 — the first lunar orbit mission in December 1968.

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Astronaut William Anders' posing with a model of the Apollo spacecraft
Astronaut William A. Anders
NASA
Featured Story

NASA Releases New Earthrise Simulation Video

NASA has issued a new visualization of the events leading to one of the iconic photographs of the 20th Century…

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History

Apollo 8

"Round the moon and back…"

During a telecast on Christmas Eve 1968, the crew read verses from the first chapter of Genesis and wished viewers, “Good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth.” 

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Three astronauts in spacesuits pose for the Apollo 8 crew portrait
The Apollo 8 Crew (L to R) Frank Borman, commander; William Anders, Lunar Module (LM) Pilot; and James Lovell, Command Module (CM) pilot pose in front of the Apollo mission simulator during training. The three served as the crew for the first manned Apollo mission launched aboard the Saturn V and first manned Apollo craft to enter lunar orbit.
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Former Astronaut William A. Anders

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Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders wearing his spacesuit
Astronaut William A. Anders, backup crew pilot of the Gemini-11 spaceflight, participates in extravehicular activity (EVA) training under zero-grav...
Apollo 8's Earthrise photo with the earth appearing over the horizon of the Moon
Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders in the Command Module
Apollo 8 Crew Training
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NASA Oral History

William A. Anders

On October 7, 1998, Bill Anders sat down for an oral history interview to discuss his career as a U.S. Air Force pilot and NASA astronaut.

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Bill Anders participates in spacewalk training
S66-47857 (11 Aug. 1966) — Astronaut William A. Anders, backup crew pilot of the Gemini-11 spaceflight, participates in extravehicular activity (EVA) training under zero-gravity conditions aboard a KC-135 aircraft from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. He is suited, and he also wears an Extravehicular Life Support System (ELSS) chest pack.
NASA
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