NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. sought an urgent interlocutory injunction against Spire Global Subsidiary, Inc. to prevent the deorbiting or decommissioning of three failed satellites and the termination of image downloading services.
NorthStar argued these interim measures were necessary pending an arbitration concerning Spire's alleged breaches of a Constellation Services Framework Agreement.
The court granted the injunction, finding a reasonable possibility that NorthStar would succeed on the merits, particularly regarding Spire's anticipatory breach of its obligation to replace satellites and its obligation to continue operating the failed satellites.
The court also found NorthStar would suffer irreparable harm due to a limitation of liability clause and the irreversible nature of deorbiting, and that the balance of convenience favored granting the injunction.
NorthStar was ordered to pay a monthly fee for the continued operation of the satellites, and Spire was ordered to pay NorthStar partial indemnity costs.