The tragic news of retired astronaut William Anders piloting a vintage plane that crashed near Seattle has shocked many in the space exploration community. Anders' significant contributions to space exploration, including the iconic "Earthrise" photograph taken during the Apollo 8 mission, have left a profound legacy in not just space exploration but also environmental awareness. This incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in aviation, even for seasoned pilots like Anders. It highlights the importance of ongoing safety measures and investigations to prevent such accidents in the future.