The sari worn by Indian scientist Nandini Harinath during a critical moment of India's Mars mission is now a prized exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in the United States.
Nandini, the mission director for India's first Mars mission, Mangalyaan, wore the bright red and blue silk sari on December 1, 2013, when the spacecraft was launched from Earth's orbit towards Mars.
The sari, a gift from her father, holds special significance for Nandini, who often chooses to wear it during important missions or when representing India's space agency, ISRO.
The decision to include the sari in the museum's collection was made after a photograph of Nandini and other women scientists celebrating the mission's success went viral, challenging stereotypes about women in space science.
Matt Shindell, the museum's space history curator, reached out to Nandini in 2020, seeking an object that could represent India's Mars mission and her role in it. They agreed on the sari she wore during the launch.
The sari is now displayed in the 'Futures in Space' gallery alongside other significant space artifacts, including the iconic blue T-shirt worn by the first American woman in space, Sally Ride.
Shindell believes the sari symbolizes both national pride in India's successful space program and Nandini's personal story, which can inspire more women to pursue careers in science.
