Vibrant red and blue silk sari worn by Indian space scientist Nandini Harinath during key moment in India's Mars mission now showcased at Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Harinath,deputy operations director for Mangalyaan mission,wore it on December 1,2013,a day she calls most important of her career .
On that day,Harinath and her colleagues at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) were in control room,readying spacecraft for its 300-day journey to Mars. "It was do-or-die moment," she said in a 2016 interview. Mission's success depended on their decisions during that operation.
Mangalyaan spacecraft entered Martian orbit on September 24,2014, making India fourth nation to reach this milestone . Harinath's sari symbolizes this feat, showing India's rise in space and women's roles. A photo of sari-clad women celebrating at ISRO went viral, challenging stereotypes in rocket science .
Matt Shindell,space history curator at Smithsonian,admired image of these "Rocket Women." He felt it crucial to tell their story. In 2020, he reached out to Harinath to decide on an item that would best represent her role in mission. They chose sari from launch day.
Once sari arrived at museum,textiles conservator Beth Knight learned to drape it on mannequin through online tutorials. Shindell noted the sari shares a "family resemblance" with other notable garments in their collection,like vest worn by NASA's Gene Kranz during Apollo 13 mission .
Sari now part of museum's "Futures in Space" gallery, displayed with various artifacts, like toys and movie posters. Positioned next to iconic blue t-shirt worn by Sally Ride,first American woman in space. Shindell said display aims to engage visitors with contemporary space exploration,provoke thought about future possibilities…
Harinath's sari captures two motivations for space exploration: India's pride in its Mars mission, and inspiring story for women in science. Shindell noted sari's cultural importance, making it an ideal museum addition .
Visitors to Smithsonian can engage with exhibit 's space efforts. Shindell expressed excitement over public's interest in garment, calling it a fantastic addition to collection.
