Sarees In Space: US Museum Showcases ISRO Scientist Nandini Harinath’s Iconic Mars Mission Drapes

Mars Mission Saree Finds A Home In Washington  

The blue-and-red saree is on display in the Futures In Space gallery at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. Harinath wore it in ISRO’s mission control during the crucial trans-Mars injection manoeuvre in November 2013, when Mangalyaan began its nearly 300-day journey to the Red Planet, marking a historic first for India.  

Who Is Nandini Harinath?  

Nandini Harinath is a senior scientist and mission designer at ISRO with over two decades of experience and more than a dozen missions to her name. She served as project manager and deputy operations director for the Mars Orbiter Mission, contributing to trajectory design, mission planning, and real-time spacecraft operations.  

Symbol Of India’s Rocket Women  

The saree has become a powerful symbol of India’s “rocket women,” representing how female scientists at ISRO blend cultural identity with cutting-edge space science. India’s Mars mission made global headlines as the country became the first in Asia to reach Mars orbit and did so on one of the lowest budgets for a Mars mission.  

Space Inspiration Highlights  

• Nandini Harinath’s blue-and-red saree from the Mars Orbiter Mission is now on display in a leading US space museum  
• She wore it in ISRO’s mission control during the critical trans-Mars injection phase  
• Harinath is a senior ISRO scientist with over 20 years of experience and many missions  
• She played a key leadership role in India’s historic, low-cost Mars Orbiter Mission  
• The saree celebrates India’s “rocket women” and inspires young girls to pursue STEM careers  

Sources: Indian and international news reports, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum notes, public ISRO and profile features on Nandini Harinath