New Delhi, May 12 -- A saree worn by Indian space scientist Nandini Harinath during a major milestone in India's Mars Orbiter Mission has become part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Known globally for displaying historic aircraft, spacecraft and aviation artefacts, the museum has now added an item tied to India's space journey - a saree worn by one of ISRO's prominent women scientists during the successful launch phase of the country's first interplanetary mission.

The garment belonged to Harinath, one of the Indian Space Research Organisation's celebrated "rocket women", who played a key role in the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan.

Nandini Harinath was born and raised in...