Organization And Principal Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Organization And Principal Business [Abstract]
Organization And Principal Business	1. Organization and Principal Business Loral Space & Communications Inc., together with its subsidiaries (“Loral,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us”), is a leading satellite communications company engaged, through our ownership interests in affiliates, in satellite-based communications services. Prior to completion of the sale of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Space Systems/Loral, LLC (formerly known as Space Systems/Loral, Inc.) (“SS/L”), we were also engaged in the satellite manufacturing business. See “Recent Developments” below. Recent Developments On November 2, 2012, Loral completed the sale (the “Sale”) of its wholly-owned subsidiary, SS/L, to MDA Communications Holdings, Inc. (“MDA Holdings”), a subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (“MDA”). Pursuant to the purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of June 26, 2012, as amended on October 30, 2012, by and among Loral, SS/L, MDA and MDA Holdings, in a series of transactions described below, Loral received total cash payments of $967.9 million plus, for the sale of certain real estate used in connection with SS/L’s business, a three-year promissory note in the principal amount of $101 million. Transaction costs related to the Sale were $35.2 million Prior to the Sale, SS/L (i) was converted into a limited liability company, (ii) transferred the real estate owned by it to a newly formed limited liability company (“Land LLC”), (iii) distributed the equity interests in Land LLC to the Company, and (iv) issued to Loral promissory notes in an aggregate amount equal to $193.9 million (the “Closing Notes”). The Closing Notes were issued to satisfy SS/L’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement to repay intercompany balances due Loral and to pay Loral a cash dividend, which included per diem amounts provided for in the Purchase Agreement. Immediately following the Sale, SS/L repaid the Closing Notes for an aggregate cash amount equal to $193.9 million. At closing of the Sale, Loral received (i) $774 million from MDA Holdings for the purchase of the equity interests in SS/L and (ii) a promissory note, dated November 2, 2012, issued by MDA for $101 million (the “Land Note”) for the sale of the equity interests in Land LLC. The Land Note bears interest at the rate of 1% per annum and amortizes in three equal annual installments on each March 31, commencing March 31, 2013. The Land Note is backed by a letter of guarantee from Royal Bank of Canada. Subsequent to the closing of the Sale and pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Loral paid MDA $6.5 million as a result of the resolution of a contingency (see Note 17). The transaction is taxable, and, for tax purposes, treated as a sale of assets. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Loral is obligated to indemnify SS/L for all Covered Litigation Costs and any Covered Litigation Damages (as such terms are defined in the Purchase Agreement), subject to certain capped cost-sharing by SS/L, and has retained control of the defense of the lawsuit against SS/L and Loral by ViaSat, Inc. as well as SS/L’s counterclaims against ViaSat, Inc. in that lawsuit. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, following a change of control of Loral, the liability of Loral for Covered Litigation Costs and Covered Litigation Damages is subject to a dollar cap. In addition, Loral is obligated to indemnify SS/L for pre-closing taxes. On November 7, 2012, in connection with the receipt of the proceeds from the Sale, our Board of Directors declared a special distribution of $29.00 per share for an aggregate distribution of $892.1 million. The special distribution was paid on December 4, 2012 to holders of record of Loral voting and non-voting common stock as of November 19, 2012. In accordance with Loral’s stock incentive plan, an equitable adjustment was made to outstanding stock-based awards to reflect the special distribution. Certain holders of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) who elected to receive the special distribution at the $29.00 per share value will receive additional payments totaling $5.3 million on their RSU settlement dates. This equitable adjustment had no effect on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012. Description of Business SS/L designs and manufactures satellites, space systems and space system components for commercial and government customers whose applications include fixed satellite services (“FSS”), direct-to-home (“DTH”) broadcasting, mobile satellite services (“MSS”), broadband data distribution, wireless telephony, digital radio, digital mobile broadcasting, military communications, weather monitoring and air traffic management. Subsequent to the sale of SS/L, Loral has one operating segment consisting of satellite based communications services. Loral participates in satellite services operations through its ownership interest in Telesat Holdings Inc. (“Telesat Holdco”) which owns Telesat Canada (“Telesat”), a global FSS provider. Telesat owns and leases a satellite fleet that operates in geosynchronous earth orbit approximately 22,000 miles above the equator. In this orbit, satellites remain in a fixed position relative to points on the earth’s surface and provide reliable, high-bandwidth services anywhere in their coverage areas, serving as the backbone for many forms of telecommunications. Loral holds a 62.8% economic interest and a 33⅓% voting interest in Telesat Holdco (see Note 8). We use the equity method of accounting for our ownership interest in Telesat Holdco. Loral, a Delaware corporation, was formed on June 24, 2005, to succeed to the business conducted by its predecessor registrant, Loral Space & Communications Ltd. (“Old Loral”), which emerged from chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy laws on November 21, 2005 (the “Effective Date”) pursuant to the terms of the fourth amended joint plan of reorganization, as modified (the “Plan of Reorganization”). Reclassification to Discontinued Operations The operations of SS/L, previously reported as the satellite manufacturing operating segment, have been reclassified as discontinued operations in our statements of operations and cash flows.

1. Organization and Principal Business

Loral Space & Communications Inc., together with its subsidiaries (“Loral,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us”), is a leading satellite communications company engaged, through our ownership interests in affiliates, in satellite-based communications services. Prior to completion of the sale of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Space Systems/Loral, LLC (formerly known as Space Systems/Loral, Inc.) (“SS/L”), we were also engaged in the satellite manufacturing business. See “Recent Developments” below.

Recent Developments

On November 2, 2012, Loral completed the sale (the “Sale”) of its wholly-owned subsidiary, SS/L, to MDA Communications Holdings, Inc. (“MDA Holdings”), a subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (“MDA”). Pursuant to the purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of June 26, 2012, as amended on October 30, 2012, by and among Loral, SS/L, MDA and MDA Holdings, in a series of transactions described below, Loral received total cash payments of $967.9 million plus, for the sale of certain real estate used in connection with SS/L’s business, a three-year promissory note in the principal amount of $101 million. Transaction costs related to the Sale were $35.2 million

Prior to the Sale, SS/L (i) was converted into a limited liability company, (ii) transferred the real estate owned by it to a newly formed limited liability company (“Land LLC”), (iii) distributed the equity interests in Land LLC to the Company, and (iv) issued to Loral promissory notes in an aggregate amount equal to $193.9 million (the “Closing Notes”). The Closing Notes were issued to satisfy SS/L’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement to repay intercompany balances due Loral and to pay Loral a cash dividend, which included per diem amounts provided for in the Purchase Agreement. Immediately following the Sale, SS/L repaid the Closing Notes for an aggregate cash amount equal to $193.9 million.

At closing of the Sale, Loral received (i) $774 million from MDA Holdings for the purchase of the equity interests in SS/L and (ii) a promissory note, dated November 2, 2012, issued by MDA for $101 million (the “Land Note”) for the sale of the equity interests in Land LLC.

The Land Note bears interest at the rate of 1% per annum and amortizes in three equal annual installments on each March 31, commencing March 31, 2013. The Land Note is backed by a letter of guarantee from Royal Bank of Canada.

Subsequent to the closing of the Sale and pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Loral paid MDA $6.5 million as a result of the resolution of a contingency (see Note 17).

The transaction is taxable, and, for tax purposes, treated as a sale of assets.

Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Loral is obligated to indemnify SS/L for all Covered Litigation Costs and any Covered Litigation Damages (as such terms are defined in the Purchase Agreement), subject to certain capped cost-sharing by SS/L, and has retained control of the defense of the lawsuit against SS/L and Loral by ViaSat, Inc. as well as SS/L’s counterclaims against ViaSat, Inc. in that lawsuit. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, following a change of control of Loral, the liability of Loral for Covered Litigation Costs and Covered Litigation Damages is subject to a dollar cap. In addition, Loral is obligated to indemnify SS/L for pre-closing taxes.

On November 7, 2012, in connection with the receipt of the proceeds from the Sale, our Board of Directors declared a special distribution of $29.00 per share for an aggregate distribution of $892.1 million. The special distribution was paid on December 4, 2012 to holders of record of Loral voting and non-voting common stock as of November 19, 2012. In accordance with Loral’s stock incentive plan, an equitable adjustment was made to outstanding stock-based awards to reflect the special distribution. Certain holders of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) who elected to receive the special distribution at the $29.00 per share value will receive additional payments totaling $5.3 million on their RSU settlement dates. This equitable adjustment had no effect on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Description of Business

SS/L designs and manufactures satellites, space systems and space system components for commercial and government customers whose applications include fixed satellite services (“FSS”), direct-to-home (“DTH”) broadcasting, mobile satellite services (“MSS”), broadband data distribution, wireless telephony, digital radio, digital mobile broadcasting, military communications, weather monitoring and air traffic management.

Subsequent to the sale of SS/L, Loral has one operating segment consisting of satellite based communications services. Loral participates in satellite services operations through its ownership interest in Telesat Holdings Inc. (“Telesat Holdco”) which owns Telesat Canada (“Telesat”), a global FSS provider. Telesat owns and leases a satellite fleet that operates in geosynchronous earth orbit approximately 22,000 miles above the equator. In this orbit, satellites remain in a fixed position relative to points on the earth’s surface and provide reliable, high-bandwidth services anywhere in their coverage areas, serving as the backbone for many forms of telecommunications.

Loral holds a 62.8% economic interest and a 33⅓% voting interest in Telesat Holdco (see Note 8). We use the equity method of accounting for our ownership interest in Telesat Holdco.

Loral, a Delaware corporation, was formed on June 24, 2005, to succeed to the business conducted by its predecessor registrant, Loral Space & Communications Ltd. (“Old Loral”), which emerged from chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy laws on November 21, 2005 (the “Effective Date”) pursuant to the terms of the fourth amended joint plan of reorganization, as modified (the “Plan of Reorganization”).

Reclassification to Discontinued Operations

The operations of SS/L, previously reported as the satellite manufacturing operating segment, have been reclassified as discontinued operations in our statements of operations and cash flows.