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, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Revenues																			$ 940,347	[1]
Operating income																			3,441	[1]
Income before income taxes																			22,167	[1]
Income tax benefit (provision)																	14,482	2,995	(10,157)	[1]
Net income																			12,010	[1]
Gain on Sale																			576,090	[1]
Income tax provision on Sale																			(267,451)	[1]
Gain (loss) on Sale, net of tax																			308,639	[1]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ (17,954)	[2],[3]	$ (6,440)	[2],[3]	$ (1)	[2],[3]	$ (7)	[2],[3]	$ (525)	[2]	$ (1,987)	[2]	$ (2,488)	[2]	$ 123	[2]	$ (24,402)	$ (4,877)	$ 320,649	[1]

[1] Reference to the year ended December 31, 2012 in the table above is for the period January 1, 2012 to November 2, 2012, the date of the Sale.

[2] 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.

[3] Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014 includes the effects of the settlement of the ViaSat Suit and the allocation of the settlement between Loral and MDA, parent of SS/L (see Note 15).