Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,107,365		$ 1,158,985	$ 993,400
Cost of revenues	(908,715)		(986,697)	(880,486)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(112,129)		(84,823)	(92,703)
Gain on disposition of net assets	6,913	[1]
Directors' indemnification expense			(6,857)
Operating income	93,434		80,608	20,211
Interest and investment income	21,350		13,550	8,307
Interest expense	(2,688)		(3,143)	(1,422)
Gain on litigation	4,535		5,000
Other expense	(6,641)		(2,921)	(121)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	109,990		93,094	26,975
Income tax (provision) benefit	(89,145)		308,622	(5,571)
Income before equity in net income of affiliates	20,845		401,716	21,404
Equity in net income of affiliates	106,329		85,625	210,298
Net income	127,174		487,341	231,702
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(497)		(495)
Net income attributable to Loral	$ 126,677		$ 486,846	$ 231,702
Net income per share attributable to Loral common shareholders:
Basic	$ 4.13		$ 16.18	$ 7.79
Diluted	$ 3.92		$ 15.63	$ 7.73
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	30,680,000		30,085,000	29,761,000
Diluted	31,166,000		30,887,000	29,981,000

[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).