Segment (Summarized Financial Information Of Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Adjusted EBITDA														$ (27,640)	[1]	$ (17,170)	[1]	$ (17,867)	[1]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														(1,134)	[1]	(1,175)	[1]	(1,605)	[1]
Gain on disposition of net assets																5,118	[1],[2]
Director's indemnification expense																		(6,857)	[1],[2],[3]
Operating loss as reported	(9,583)		(10,316)	(4,264)	(4,611)	(5,502)	[4]	(4,076)	[4]	1,444	[4]	(5,093)	[4]	(28,774)	[1],[3]	(13,227)	[1],[3]	(26,329)	[1],[3]
Total Assets	378,992	[5],[6]				1,836,153	[5],[6]							378,992	[5],[6]	1,836,153	[5],[6]
Capital expenditures as reported														4		350		18,679
Satellite Manufacturing External [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														882,585		967,432		1,021,768
Intersegment [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														57,762	[7]	140,763	[7]	143,318	[7]
Satellite Manufacturing [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														940,347	[7]	1,108,195	[7]	1,165,086	[7]
Adjusted EBITDA														31,233	[1]	137,659	[1]	143,076	[1]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														(27,792)	[1]	(32,514)	[1]	(34,675)	[1]
Total Assets						929,408	[6]									929,408	[6]
Capital expenditures as reported														40,873		36,615		35,378
Satellite Services Revenues [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														846,148	[5]	817,269	[5]	797,283	[5]
Adjusted EBITDA														648,202	[1],[5]	629,150	[1],[5]	606,651	[1],[5]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														(249,134)	[1],[5]	(248,010)	[1],[5]	(249,318)	[1],[5]
Total Assets	5,342,313	[6],[8]				5,724,418	[6],[8]							5,342,313	[6],[8]	5,724,418	[6],[8]
Capital expenditures as reported														170,394	[5]	390,641	[5]	254,020	[5]
Operating Segment Before Eliminations [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														1,786,495	[5]	1,925,464	[5]	1,962,369	[5]
Adjusted EBITDA														651,795	[1],[9]	749,639	[1],[9]	731,861	[1],[9]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														(278,060)	[1]	(281,699)	[1]	(285,598)	[1]
Total Assets	5,721,305	[6]				7,183,327	[6]							5,721,305	[6]	7,183,327	[6]
Capital expenditures as reported														211,271	[6]	427,606	[6]	308,077	[6]
Before Discontinued Operations Elimination [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														940,347	[5]	1,107,365	[5]	1,158,985	[5]
Adjusted EBITDA														3,593	[1],[5]	120,210	[1],[5]	123,745	[1],[5]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														(28,926)	[1],[5]	(33,689)	[1],[5]	(36,280)	[1],[5]
Capital expenditures as reported														40,877	[5]	36,965	[5]	54,057	[5]
Discontinued Operations Elimination [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														(940,347)		(1,107,365)		(1,158,985)
Adjusted EBITDA														(31,233)	[1]	(137,380)	[1]	(141,612)	[1]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														27,792	[1]	32,514	[1]	34,675	[1]
Capital expenditures as reported														(40,873)		(36,615)		(35,378)
Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues																(830)	[10]	(6,101)	[10]
Adjusted EBITDA																(279)	[1],[10]	(1,465)	[1],[10]
Affiliate Eliminations [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Total revenues														(846,148)	[10],[5]	(817,269)	[10],[5]	(797,283)	[10],[5]
Adjusted EBITDA														(648,202)	[1],[10],[5]	(629,150)	[1],[10],[5]	(606,651)	[1],[10],[5]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														249,134	[1],[5]	248,010	[1],[5]	249,318	[1],[5]
Total Assets	(5,342,313)	[5],[6]				(5,347,174)	[5],[6]							(5,342,313)	[5],[6]	(5,347,174)	[5],[6]
Capital expenditures as reported														(170,394)	[5],[6]	(390,641)	[5],[6]	(254,020)	[5],[6]
Corporate [Member]
Financial information of reportable segments [Line Items ]
Adjusted EBITDA														(27,640)	[1],[5]	(17,170)	[1],[5]	(17,866)	[1],[5]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported														(1,134)	[1],[5]	(1,175)	[1],[5]	(1,605)	[1],[5]
Total Assets	378,992	[6],[8]				529,501	[6],[8]							378,992	[6],[8]	529,501	[6],[8]
Capital expenditures as reported														$ 4	[5]	$ 350	[5]	$ 18,679	[5]

[1] Compensation expense related to SS/L Phantom SARs and restricted stock units paid in cash or expected to be paid in cash is included in Adjusted EBITDA. Compensation expense related to SS/L Phantom SARs and restricted stock units paid in Loral common stock or expected to be paid in Loral common stock is included in depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation.

[2] Represents the gain included in continuing operations on the sale of Loral’s portion of the payload on the ViaSat-1 satellite and related net assets to Telesat adjusted for elimination of Loral’s ownership interest in Telesat (see Note 19).

[3] Represents indemnification expense, net of insurance recovery, in connection with defense costs incurred by MHR affiliated directors in the Delaware shareholder derivative case.

[4] As a result of the Sale of SS/L on November 2, 2012, our 2011 selected quarterly financial information has been restated to reflect SS/L as a discontinued operation.

[5] Satellite services represents Telesat. Affiliate eliminations represent the elimination of amounts attributable to Telesat whose results are reported under the equity method of accounting in our consolidated statements of operations (see Note 8).

[6] Amounts are presented after the elimination of intercompany profit.

[7] Intersegment revenues include $58 million, $140 million and $137 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, of revenue from affiliates.

[8] Includes $2.5 billion and $2.4 billion of satellite services goodwill related to Telesat as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[9] Includes corporate expenses incurred in support of our operations and includes our equity investments in XTAR and Globalstar service providers.

[10] Represents the elimination of intercompany sales and intercompany Adjusted EBITDA for a satellite under construction by SS/L for Loral.