Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related parties	$ 139,960,000		$ 137,244,000	$ 92,144,000
Related party transaction, consulting fee	5,000,000		5,000,000	5,000,000
Common stock acquired by an unaffiliated third party	90.00%
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	6,913,000	[1]
Related party transcation, expenses from transactions with related party	124,500,000		140,500,000	153,500,000
Telesat [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest	64.00%
Amounts receivable by SS/L from affiliate Telesat related to satellite construction contracts	4,600,000		0
Related party transaction, date	Oct. 31, 2007
Consulting agreement, term	7
Consulting agreement, additional renewal term	7
Revenue from related parties	139,911,000		137,195,000	92,095,000
Consulting agreement, annual fee	5,000,000
Related party transaction, rate	7.00%
Long-term receivable related to consulting agreement	20,700,000		17,600,000
Indemnification liabilities recognized with related party affiliate Telesat	500,000		500,000
Indemnification assets with related party affiliate Telesat	2,600,000
Tax recovery benefit included in long-term liabilities	2,100,000
Premium from sale of Loral payload	13,000,000
Reimbursement of costs under payload and related agreements	48,200,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	6,900,000
Payments to affiliates	1,400,000
Liability for ChinaSat future use of transponders	3,700,000		6,000,000
Interest expense on ChinaSat liability	500,000		700,000	900,000
Payments to related party pursuant to the ChinaSat agreement	2,700,000
Payment received from Telesat, related to consulting agreement	3,200,000
ViaSat [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue from related parties	17,700,000		34,600,000	86,600,000
Payment of launch and associated services actual costs by parent, percentage	15.00%
Payments to affiliates	3,900,000
XTAR [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest	56.00%
Related party transaction, management fee				1,200,000
Management fee charged as a percentage of revenue	3.70%
Management fees due from joint venture XTAR	4,200,000		3,000,000
MHR Funds [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding voting common stock	38.60%		38.90%
Percentage of combined ownership of voting and non-voting common stock	57.70%		58.00%
ProtoStar Credit Facility	200,000,000
MHR Aggregate Participation in ProtoStar Credit Facility	6,000,000
Protostar [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Contract value	26,000,000
Allowance for billed receivables from related party				3,000,000
11% Senior Notes [Member] | Telesat [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of senior notes	11.00%
12.5 % Senior Subordinated Notes [Member] | Telesat [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of senior subordinated notes	12.50%
Telesat [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest	64.00%
Telesat [Member] | 11% Senior Notes [Member] | MHR Funds Affiliated [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Principal amount of Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes held by funds affiliated	83,700,000
Telesat [Member] | 12.5 % Senior Subordinated Notes [Member] | MHR Funds Affiliated [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Principal amount of Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes held by funds affiliated	$ 29,750,000

[1] Represents the gain on the sale of Loral's portion of the payload on the ViaSat-1 satellite and related net assets to Telesat adjusted for elimination of Loral's 64% ownership interest in Telesat (see Note 17).