<span style="color: #222222;">The Department of Space Secretary Dr K Sivan has said the space sector reform allowing private players is not going to diminish the role of the national space agency ISRO in any way. Addressing Chennai-based journalists through video-conferencing today from Bengaluru, he said the proposed Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre – INSPACE will function under the Department of Space in effect as a regulator of private players in space.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also said India is currently able to tap only about three per cent of the global space market and opening up the sector for private agencies will help India improve its global market share. His remarks come in the backdrop of the Union Cabinet giving its approval for private players in the sector, within the regulatory framework of the Department of Space.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports that ISRO chief Dr Sivan has asserted that the ISRO will play its role as the national space agency as usual and will concentrate even more in capacity building and research on cutting edge space technologies. He said the prevailing lockdown has forced the postponement of several launches and has delayed the ongoing works on the manned space flight Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-3 and a host of other application-oriented space missions. Dr Sivan expressed confidence that private participation may augment the availability of communication transponders for Indian user agencies as there is a huge shortfall now, forcing users to get it on lease from foreign players.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">When asked about the proposed new launch pad at Kulasekharapattinam near Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, he said the location is ideal for launching satellites in the southward orientation. He said the state government is yet to complete the land acquisition work and once the land is handed over to ISRO, the works on the launch pad, control centres and other facilities will immediately begin there.</span><br />''