Discontinued Operations (Summary of SS/L's Operating Results Included in Income from Discontinued Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Revenues																		$ 940,347	$ 1,107,365
Operating income																		3,441	106,661
Income before income taxes																		22,167	122,336
Income tax benfit (provision)																	2,995	(10,157)	(47,770)
Net income																		12,010	74,566
Gain on Sale																		576,090
Income tax provision on sale																		(267,451)
Gain (loss) on Sale, net of tax																		308,639
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ (525)	[1]	$ (1,987)	[1]	$ (2,488)	[1]	$ 123	[1]	$ 302,933	[1]	$ 4,271	[1]	$ 4,937	[1]	$ 8,508	[1]	$ (4,877)	$ 320,649	$ 74,566

[1] The quarterly earnings per share information is computed separately for each period. Therefore, the sum of such quarterly per share amounts may differ from the total for the year.