Debt Obligations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio	3.00 to 1.00
Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio	3.50 to 1.00
Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio dividend cash distribution	3.00 to 1.00
Maximum annual management fees permitted to be paid to parent company	$ 1,500,000
Maximum annual corporate overhead permitted to be paid to parent company	15,000,000
Annual dividends permitted to be paid	20,000,000
Maximum one time dividend permitted as per Credit Agreement	66,000,000
One time dividend payment to Parent	50,000,000
Debt issuance costs		2,226,000
SS/L Credit Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Senior secured revolving credit facility	150,000,000
Maturity date	Jan. 24, 2014
Dividends permitted during the term of the Credit Agreement	60,000,000
Debt issuance costs	2,200,000
Letter Of Credit Sublimit [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Senior secured revolving credit facility	100,000,000
Swingline Commitment [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Senior secured revolving credit facility	10,000,000
Prior Credit Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Senior secured revolving credit facility	100,000,000
Line of credit facility, initiation date	October 16, 2008
Line of credit facility, expiration date	October 16, 2011
Credit Agreement Before Amended [Member] | Letter Of Credit Sublimit [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Senior secured revolving credit facility	$ 50,000,000
Daily Basis [Member] | Prime Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage	2.75%
Daily Basis [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage	0.50%
Daily Basis [Member] | Eurodollar Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage	1.00%
Periods Ending In One, Two, Three Or Six Months [Member] | Eurodollar Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage	3.75%