Bhubaneswar, March 4 -- It was 'duty first' for Isro chief S Somnath on September 2, 2023, when he was diagnosed with cancer. After spending only four days in hospital, Somnath resumed duties as India was going to launch one of its most ambitious projects, Aditya-L1.

On September 2, India launched its first space-based solar observatory, Aditya L1. The very day when Aditya L1 embarked on its journey to the Sun, Somnath underwent a routine scan that revealed a growth in his stomach.

In an interview with Tarmak Media House, Somnath said, "There were some health issues during Chandrayaan-3 mission launch. However, it was not clear to me at the time, I did not have a clear understanding about it."

"It was a shock for the family. But now, I...