A saree worn by Indian Space Research Organisation scientist Nandini Harinath has found a place inside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, turning a piece of clothing associated
with India’s Mars mission into a symbol of the country’s growing space legacy.
The display, which recently drew widespread attention online after the Smithsonian shared images on Instagram, honours Harinath’s contribution to India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, better known as Mangalyaan. The mission remains one of ISRO’s most celebrated achievements after India became the first Asian nation and the fourth country in the world to successfully reach Mars.
The Smithsonian described Harinath as a key figure in the mission, where she served as deputy operations director. According to the museum, the spacecraft far exceeded its original expected operational life of six to ten months and continued orbiting Mars for nearly eight years while studying the planet’s atmosphere and surface.
What particularly captured public attention was the saree itself. The display features a mannequin draped in a blue and red saree paired with a blue blouse, representing not just Harinath personally but also the broader identity of Indian women scientists who became globally recognised during the mission. The Smithsonian said the sarees worn by women leading the mission eventually became symbolic of both national identity and India’s success in space exploration.
Mangalyaan had drawn international fascination in 2014 not only because of its relatively low mission cost and engineering success, but also because images of women scientists in colourful sarees inside ISRO’s control room spread widely across global media. The photographs challenged many global stereotypes around scientists and space agencies, particularly from developing countries.
Harinath herself has often spoken about the emotional significance of the mission and the recognition it brought to Indian scientists. In an earlier interview quoted by Indian Express, she said the project changed how Indian space research was viewed globally. “The PM shook hands with us. Nasa congratulated us; they’re now collaborating with us,” she said while describing the global response after Mangalyaan’s success.
Over a career spanning more than two decades, Harinath has contributed to more than 14 ISRO missions. She grew up in an academically inclined family, with her mother working as a mathematics teacher and her father as an engineer, before pursuing engineering studies and eventually joining ISRO.
In recent years, Harinath has also spoken publicly about the inspiration behind her interest in space exploration. During a 2025 event in Bengaluru, she recalled being deeply influenced by science-fiction shows and films while growing up. She mentioned that her family never missed an episode of Star Trek and said films such as Apollo 13 shaped her fascination with exploration and teamwork.
