The December 2020 issue of  the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine  sponsored by The SpaceConnection is now available.  Featuring: The Satellite Industry in a Post-Pandemic World by Elisabeth Tweedie Constellation Watch: China's Incubating Answer to Starlink by Blaine Curcio Satellite's Year 2020:  Virtually Experienced... by Martin Jarrold And Yet... by Lou Zacharilla Better Satellite World Series: Mission to the Future PLUS Product and Services Spotlight, Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Briefs, Vital Statistics, and many more.tics, and many more.

From the beginning, with Arthur C. Clarke’s 1945 Wireless World article proposing that just three “geostationary” satellites would cover the entire surface of the Earth from their (relative to a point on the surface below) stationary positions, the idea of using satellites for communications was conceived to achieve global wireless connectivity. 

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: GILT), announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend to shareholders in the amount of US$ 0.63 per share (approximately US$ 35 million in the aggregate) following receipt of court approval for the distribution of the dividend. The dividend will be paid in US$ on January 20, 2021 to shareholders of record on January 11, 2021.

Comtech Telecommunications Corp.  (NASDAQ: CMTL) reported today that Comtech and UHP Networks, Inc., a leading provider of innovative and disruptive satellite ground station technology solutions, agreed to extend their agreement for Comtech’s purchase of UHP, which was originally announced in November 2019, until February 28, 2021. UHP is based in Canada and has developed revolutionary technology that is transforming the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) market.

Voyager Space Holdings today announced its intent to acquire a majority stake in XO Markets and its largest subsidiary Nanoracks. Nanoracks is one of the world’s leading provider of commercial space services, offering low-cost, high-quality solutions to the most pressing needs for satellite deployment and basic and educational research in more than 30 nations worldwide.

Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RigNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNET), a leading provider of ultra-secure, intelligent networking solutions and specialized applications, in an all-stock transaction that values RigNet at an enterprise value of approximately US$ 222 million based on Viasat’s share price as of the date of the agreement and RigNet’s net debt at September 30, 2020.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AJRD) for US$ 56 per share in cash, which is expected to be reduced to US$ 51 per share after the payment of a pre-closing special dividend. This represents a post-dividend equity value of $4.6 billion and a total transaction value of $4.4 billion including the assumption of net cash.

Redwire announced today that it has acquired LoadPath, a developer of payload adapters, deployable structures, and thermal products for the space industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

More than 540 companies have contracted to exhibit at the 2021 NA

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) today reported its operating results for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2020 and updated its financial targets for fiscal 2021. The company reported consolidated net sales of US$ 135.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $14.3 million (or 10.6% of consolidated net sales) exceeded Comtech's expectation for its first quarter of fiscal 2021. 

Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Highlights