Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 306,199		$ 268,845		$ 252,422		$ 279,899		$ 326,671		$ 323,438		$ 279,962		$ 228,914		$ 1,107,365	$ 1,158,985	$ 993,400
Operating income (loss)	28,127		14,371		23,484		27,452		34,156		39,621		23,098		(16,267)		93,434	80,608	20,211
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income (losses) of affiliates	29,784		17,189		26,105		36,912		38,981		41,462		26,355		(13,704)		109,990	93,094	26,975
Equity in net income (losses) of affiliates	113,405		(77,262)		23,940		46,246		45,396		40,011		(44,374)		44,592		106,329	85,625	210,298
Net income (loss)	107,051		(77,298)		29,626		67,795		405,241		72,392		(19,665)		29,373		127,174	487,341	231,702
Net income attributable to Loral common shareholders - basic	$ 106,893		$ (77,368)		$ 29,333		$ 67,819		$ 404,746		$ 72,392		$ (19,665)		$ 29,373		$ 126,677	$ 486,846	$ 231,702
Basic income (loss) per share	$ 3.48	[1]	$ (2.52)	[1]	$ 0.96	[1]	$ 2.21	[1]	$ 13.36	[1]	$ 2.40	[1]	$ (0.66)	[1]	$ 0.98	[1]	$ 4.13	$ 16.18	$ 7.79
Diluted income (loss) per share	$ 3.28	[1]	$ (2.52)	[1]	$ 0.91	[1]	$ 2.10	[1]	$ 12.87	[1]	$ 2.29	[1]	$ (0.66)	[1]	$ 0.97	[1]	$ 3.92	$ 15.63	$ 7.73

[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.