The ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Chief S Somanath unveiled in an interview that he was diagnosed with cancer on the launch day of India’s solar mission Aditya L-1.
The ISRO chief in an interview with Tarmak Media House reminisced that there were some health issues during the Chandrayan-3 mission launch. But, it was not clear to him, and he did not understand it.
Somanath said that he found the problem on the day of the Aditya-L1 launch. After the launch of the Aditya-L1 mission, he underwent a routine scan on the morning of that day that revealed that he had a growth in his stomach. Through this scan, he gained a clue about his condition.
To confirm the problem, he underwent further scans in Chennai. Following tests within 2-3 days, confirmed the presence of hereditary disease. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy.
He said that after the launch of Aditya-L1, he was suggested to undergo an operation. The operation was performed, and after that he underwent chemotherapy. He shared the news with his family and relatives and said it was a shock for the family. But, now he perceives cancer and its treatment as a solution. There is a message out there that it is not curable.
Somanth conceded that he was uncertain about a complete cure at the time he was undergoing the process, which underlines the nature of his battle against cancer. He also said that he will undergo regular checkups and scans. But, now he was completely cured and had resumed his duties. After spending four days in the hospital, he resumed his duties at ISRO on the fifth day without any pain. He said he had no pain, it was simply a growth, and they noticed and removed it.
Mr. S Somanath is an Indian aerospace engineer. He is currently working as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Under his chairmanship, ISRO carried out Chandrayaan-3, the third lunar exploration mission. Earlier, he served as the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). He is known for his contributions to launch vehicle design, especially in engineering launch vehicle systems, structural designs, and pyrotechnics.
References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._Somanath
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/MSM)