Organization and Principal Business (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Telesat Holdco [Member]	Nov. 02, 2012 Sale of SS/L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Sale of SS/L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Sale of SS/L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 ViaSat Lawsuit [Member] Sale of SS/L [Member] Indemnification Agreement [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Loral Change of Control [Member] ViaSat Lawsuit [Member] Sale of SS/L [Member] Indemnification Agreement [Member]
Organization And Principal Business [Line Items]
Economic interest in affiliates			62.80%
Voting interest in affiliate			32.70%
Cash proceeds from sale of SS/L				$ 967,900,000
Amortization period of Land Note				3 years
Date purchase agreement entered into				Jun. 26, 2012
Date of first modification of purchase agreement				Oct. 30, 2012
Date of second modification of purchase agreement						Mar. 28, 2013
Promissory note for sale of real estate of disposal group	33,667,000	101,000,000		101,000,000
Transaction costs related to sale of SS/L				35,200,000
Original due date of first installment of promissory note						Mar. 31, 2013
Revised due date of first installment of promissory note						Mar. 31, 2014
Principal amount of first installment of promissory note						33,700,000
Original interest rate of first installment of promissory note						1.00%
Revised interest rate of first installment of promissory note						1.50%
Land promissory note interest rate				1.00%
Disposal segment, sale date				Nov. 02, 2012
Payment towards contingency pursuant to purchase agreement					6,500,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value							283,000,000
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum								200,000,000
Promissory note amortization period and frequency				three equal annual installments
Promissory note amortization period commencement date				Mar. 31, 2013
Receipt of principal, Land Note	$ 67,333,000
Date of incorporation	Jun. 24, 2005
Date of emergence from bankruptcy proceedings	Nov. 21, 2005