NASA astronaut William Anders tragically passed away in a plane crash in Washington state, confirmed by his son Gregory Anders to CNN. 

The incident occurred near the San Juan Islands, where an older model plane he piloted crashed into the waters off Jones Island's north end. San Juan County Sheriff's Office initiated a search after receiving reports at 11:40 am PT. 

Anders, born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, achieved fame as part of the Apollo 8 mission, capturing the iconic "Earthrise" photo. His contributions to space exploration and leadership roles post-NASA underscored his profound impact on science and humanity.