Investments In Affiliates (Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Telesat Holdings Inc. [Member]
Statement of Operations Data [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 817,269	$ 797,283	$ 691,566
Operating expenses	(188,119)	(190,632)	(203,417)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(248,012)	(249,318)	(230,176)
Gain on insurance proceeds	136,507
Impairment of intangible assets	(1,112)
(Loss) gain on disposition of long-lived assets	(1,499)	3,714	29,311
Operating income (loss)	515,034	361,047	287,284
Interest expense	(220,598)	(234,556)	(227,986)
Foreign exchange (losses) gains	(80,991)	159,191	439,160
Gains (losses) on financial instruments	50,731	(76,937)	(148,954)
Other income (expense)	1,964	619	(764)
Income tax expense	(65,271)	(41,177)	(2,185)
Net income (loss)	200,869	168,187	346,555
Balance Sheet Data [Abstract]
Current assets	351,802	291,367
Total assets	5,347,174	5,309,441
Current liabilities	289,351	294,485
Long-term debt, including current portion	2,817,857	2,928,916
Total liabilities	4,045,619	4,145,336
Redeemable preferred stock	138,485	141,718
Shareholders' equity	1,163,070	1,022,387
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Statement of Operations Data [Abstract]
Revenues	37,055	37,907	32,038
Operating expenses	(34,734)	(35,724)	(34,594)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(9,617)	(9,618)	(9,618)
Operating income (loss)	(7,296)	(7,435)	(12,174)
Gain on settlement of Arianespace incentive cap			11,668
Net income (loss)	(11,882)	(12,435)	(4,849)
Balance Sheet Data [Abstract]
Current assets	10,558	9,290
Total assets	88,033	96,383
Current liabilities	45,704	61,839
Total liabilities	54,614	69,616
Shareholders' equity	$ 33,419	$ 26,767