Government To Install 'Bharat Darpan' Mirror On Space Station So India Can See Itself From Space

The Department of Space announced a Rs 4,700 crore initiative called Project Bharat Darpan, which will install a 400-square-metre reflective mirror array on the Indian Space Station currently under development, positioned to reflect an image of the Indian subcontinent back toward Earth. The stated purpose is to allow citizens to 'witness India's grandeur from the perspective of space,' which the department defines as standing on a rooftop and squinting upward at night. Scientists have noted some practical complications, primarily that the mirror will be visible for approximately 3.8 seconds per orbital pass, mostly over the ocean. A mobile app will provide real-time notifications for the optimal waving window. The project is expected to be completed by Q3, which officials define as 'eventually.'