India (Commonwealth Union)_ A saree worn by Indian space scientist Nandini Harinath during a defining moment in India’s Mars mission has been featured in an exhibition at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The honour brings attention to India’s growing accomplishments in space exploration and the key role women scientists have played in the country’s scientific journey. The saree, which features bright red and blue colours with intricate patterns, is now on display alongside some of the world’s most notable artefacts of aviation and space exploration. The museum recently posted pictures and videos of the exhibition showing the garment displayed on a mannequin as part of its collection, celebrating major events in space history.
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According to the museum, Harinath wore the saree on the day the Indian Space Research Organisation‘s Mars Orbiter Mission successfully left Earth’s orbit and began its long journey to Mars. As the mission’s Deputy Operations Director, she assisted in planning and executing the spacecraft’s operations. Often called one of India’s “Rocket Women,” Harinath was part of the team that helped achieve one of the country’s biggest scientific achievements. In 2014, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan, made history when it successfully entered Mars’ orbit. The achievement made India the first Asian nation and only the fourth country in the world to reach the Red Planet.
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The mission attracted international attention not for its success but because India accomplished the feat on its very first attempt. The spacecraft was originally expected to operate for six to ten months but continued collecting valuable data on the atmosphere and surface of Mars for nearly eight years. Harinath’s saree on display at the Smithsonian has been widely praised on social media, with many users calling it a powerful symbol of India’s scientific progress and an inspiring tribute to women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Harinath’s journey into space science began long before Mangalyaan. She grew up in a family with strong academic roots. Her mother was a mathematics teacher, and her father was an engineer, and she drew inspiration from both of them. She did her engineering, joined ISRO and built a stellar career that spanned over two decades. Over these years, she has been a part of more than 14 space missions, and today, she is one of the most respected faces of India’s space programme. Every mission feels like the most important one when you are working on it, Harinath often says. She credits popular science fiction series Star Trek and film Apollo 13 for igniting her passion for space exploration. Today, her saree stands as a reminder that behind every big scientific achievement are people who work tirelessly and script history.
