Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 05, 2012	Mar. 28, 2012	Apr. 11, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Satellite construction contracts
Supplemental capacity revenue					$ 1,000,000
Common stock acquired by an unaffiliated third party					90.00%
Duration for shares to be paid, days					10 days
Revenue from related parties					57,571,000	139,960,000	137,244,000
Duration of contract assigned to Telesat					15 years
Gain on transactions with affiliate						6,900,000
Gain (loss) on transaction with subsidiary classified as discontinued operations						1,800,000
Proceeds from cumulative intercompany profit						13,000,000
Related party transaction, expenses from transactions with related party					30,700,000	124,500,000	140,500,000
Telesat [Member]
Satellite construction contracts
Percentage of ownership interest					62.80%
Amounts receivable by SS\L from affiliate Telesat related to satellite construction contracts						4,600,000
Related party transaction, date					Oct. 31, 2007
Consulting agreement, term					7 years
Consulting agreement, additional renewal term					7 years
Consulting agreement, annual fee					5,000,000
Related party transaction rate					7.00%
Related party transaction, consulting fee					5,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000
Long-term receivable related to consulting agreement					4,500,000	3,100,000	6,000,000
Payment received from Telesat related to consulting agreement					1,600,000	3,200,000	0
Premium from sale of Loral Payload			13,000,000
Amount paid to pay off the outstanding note with interest due				24,100,000
Indemnification liabilities recognized with related party affiliate Telesat						500,000
Indemnification assets with related party affiliate Telesat						2,600,000
Tax recovery benefit included in long-term liabilities						2,100,000
Special cash distribution received from Telesat	44,000,000	376,000,000
Revenue from related parties					57,745,000	139,911,000	137,195,000
Reimbursement of costs under payload and related agreements			48,200,000
Payments to affiliates			1,400,000
Liability for ChinaSat future use of transponders					3,700,000
Interest expense on ChinaSat liability					200,000	500,000	700,000
Payments to related party pursuant to the ChinaSat agreement					2,200,000
Viasat [Member]
Satellite construction contracts
Payment of launch and associated services actual costs by parent, percentage					15.00%
Revenue from related parties				400,000		17,700,000	34,600,000
Payments to affiliates			3,900,000
Xtar [Member]
Satellite construction contracts
Percentage of ownership interest					56.00%
Management fee charged as a percentage of revenue					3.70%
Management fees due from joint venture XTAR					5,500,000	4,200,000
MHR Funds [Member]
Satellite construction contracts
Percentage of outstanding voting common stock					38.30%	38.60%
Percentage of combined ownership of voting and non-voting common stock					57.40%	57.70%
Vice Chairman [Member]
Satellite construction contracts
Related party transaction, date					Dec. 14, 2012
Related party transaction, consulting fee					103,000
Payments to affiliates					$ 51,500