What she wore to work on a historic day at ISRO is now part of one of the world’s most famous space museums. In a proud moment for India, a saree worn by ISRO scientist Nandini Harinath during the Mars Orbiter Mission has been displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in the United States. A simple saree, a historic moment The red-and-blue saree with intricate patterns was worn by Harinath on the day India’s spacecraft successfully left Earth’s orbit and began its 300-day journey to Mars.
What may have seemed like an ordinary workday outfit has now become a symbol of one of India’s greatest scientific achievements.
The museum has placed the saree on a mannequin and included it among globally important artifacts related to aviation and space exploration. Smithsonian calls her one of India’s ‘Rocket Women’ In its official note, the museum wrote: One of India’s ‘Rocket Women,’ Nandini Harinath, helped her country reach Mars. She wore this saree to work the day the Indian Space Research Organisation’s spacecraft successfully left Earth’s orbit and began its 300-day journey to Mars. The museum also highlighted Harinath’s crucial role as deputy operations director of the mission. Also read: NASA confirms school bus-sized asteroid passing Earth this weekend, know what is ‘Asteroid 2026 JH2,’
India’s Mars mission made history India launched the Mars Orbiter Mission, popularly known as Mangalyaan, in 2013. In 2014, the spacecraft entered Mars orbit, making India: The mission was originally expected to last six to ten months, but the spacecraft continued working for nearly eight years and sent valuable data about Mars’ surface and atmosphere. Who is Nandini Harinath? Nandini Harinath is one of ISRO’s most respected scientists and is widely known as one of India’s “rocket women.” Over a career spanning more than two decades, she has worked on more than 14 space missions.
She grew up in a family focused on education.
Her mother was a mathematics teacher, and her father was an engineer. Harinath has often said that every mission feels like the most important one while she is working on it. Also read: NASA’s new super spacesuits to have 8-hour toilet backup
A proud moment for India and women in science Harinath has credited the TV series Star Trek and the film Apollo 13 for inspiring her interest in space science. The saree’s inclusion in the Smithsonian has received widespread praise online.
Many people see it as more than just a piece of clothing. It represents India’s growing achievements in space and the important role women have played in making those milestones possible. From a control room at ISRO to a museum visited by millions, this saree now tells a story of determination, science, and national pride.
