Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Voting Common Stock [Member]	Non-Voting Common Stock [Member]	Paid-In Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock Voting [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Shareholders' Equity Attributable To Loral [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 209	$ 95	$ 1,028,263		$ (32,374)	$ (95,873)	$ 900,320	$ 629	$ 900,949
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	20,925	9,506
Net income (loss)					126,677			497
Other comprehensive income (loss)						(58,602)
Comprehensive income							68,075		68,572
Exercise of stock options	3		1,055				1,058		1,058
Exercise of stock options, shares	305
Shares surrendered to fund withholding taxes			(16,972)				(16,972)		(16,972)
Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options			1,198				1,198		1,198
Stock based compensation			1,180				1,180		1,180
Voting common stock repurchased, shares				136
Voting common stock repurchased				(8,400)			(8,400)		(8,400)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	212	95	1,014,724	(8,400)	94,303	(154,475)	946,459	1,126	947,585
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	21,230	9,506		136
Net income (loss)					7,631			(13)	7,618
Other comprehensive income (loss)						2,797			2,797
Comprehensive income							10,428		10,428
Comprehensive income including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest									10,415
Common dividends declared ($13.60 per share)					(417,606)		(417,606)		(417,606)
Exercise of stock options	1		178				179		179
Exercise of stock options, shares	72
Shares surrendered to fund withholding taxes			(4,900)				(4,900)		(4,900)
Shares surrendered to fund withholding taxes, shares	17
Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options			19				19		19
Stock based compensation			281				281		281
Cash settlement of restricted stock units			(169)				(169)		(169)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 213	$ 95	$ 1,010,133	$ (8,400)	$ (315,672)	$ (151,678)	$ 534,691	$ 1,113	$ 535,804
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2012	21,319	9,506		136