The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath faced a personal health crisis on the day of India’s landmark solar mission, Aditya L1, launched into space. Somanath revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer, confirming the presence of a growth in one of his scans.
In an interview with Tarmak Media House, Somanath disclosed the challenges he faced during the Chandrayaan-3 mission launch due to health issues, which were not initially clear to him. The diagnosis report arrived on the day of Aditya L1‘s launch, surprising Somanath, his family, and colleagues who had supported him through this tough time.
The Aditya L1 mission, launched on September 2, 2023, aimed to study the Sun from an orbit around the Lagrange Point 1 (L1), a pivotal location in the Earth-Sun system’s orbital plane.
Further tests in Chennai confirmed that Somanath is suffering from a hereditary disease, leading him to undergo an operation and commence chemotherapy. Despite the shock, Somanath adopted an optimistic outlook, viewing cancer and its treatment as a solution rather than a setback.
While uncertain about a complete cure during treatment, Somanath displayed remarkable resilience, promptly returning to work just four days after his hospitalization. He resumed his responsibilities at ISRO, undeterred by the ongoing battle with cancer.
Somanath emphasized the importance of regular checkups and scans despite his return to work, ensuring ongoing vigilance in his health management.
