Investments In Affiliates (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 06, 2007	Jan. 31, 2005	Mar. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009 years	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2005 years	Jan. 27, 2009 years	Dec. 31, 2008
Investments In Affiliates [Line Items]
Impairment of equity method investment				$ 1.5
PSP economic interest in affiliate				36.00%
PSP voting interest in Telesat other than for director election				66.67%
PSP voting interest in Telesat for election of Directors				30.00%
Telesat Holdings Inc. [Member]
Investments In Affiliates [Line Items]
Sale premium received on sale of net assets to affiliate				13
Recognition of Intercompany profit previously eliminated				5
Economic interest in affiliates				64.00%
Elimination of share (economic interest) of profit on sale of net assets to affiliate				11
Gain on sales of net asset to affiliate after intercompany profit elimination				7
Restriction on cash dividend by affiliates				$75 million plus 50% of cumulative consolidated net income
Investee debt covenant and dividend distribution and payment of consulting fee				less than 5.0 to 1.0
Consulting fees received, cash				3.2
Voting interests, affiliates				33.33%
Investee proceeds from insurance settlement				132.7
Investee transfer of leasehold interests and related contracts, consideration					69
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Investments In Affiliates [Line Items]
Economic interest in affiliates				56.00%
Convertible loan, original due date		February 2011
Convertible loan, extended due date		December 31, 2011
Repayment of loan balance				18.5
Capital contribution			4.5	10.4
Lease obligation				24
Cumulative lease obligation, past due									32.3
Deferred lease payments					6.7
Annual repayment past due and deferred lease obligation				5.0
Repayment term past due and deferred lease obligation, years					12
Cumulative payments of restructured past due and deferred lease obligation				14.2
Discount rate for prepayment of restructured past due and deferred lease obligation				9.00%
Vendor Financing Satellite launch vehicle	15.8
Interest on vendor financing of satellite launch vehicle							10.00%
Duration, in years, of incentive fee to fund part of Satellite launch cost							15
Incentive fee, percentage of operating revenues							3.50%
Cumulative incentive fee paid						1.5
Lump sum vendor settlement in lieu of annual incentive fee								8.0
Lump sum vendor settlement number of installments								3
Gain related to extinguishment of annual incentive fee liability					11.7
Capital call issued by equity method investee			8
Capital call, percentage			56.00%
XTAR, LLC [Member] | Hisdesat [Member]
Investments In Affiliates [Line Items]
Convertible loan		10.8
Post 2011 Period Through Estimated Useful Life Of Satellite (2022) [Member]
Investments In Affiliates [Line Items]
Maximum annual lease obligation				$ 28
Useful life of the satellite, estimated				2022