Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 DBSD Satellite Services G.P. [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 TerreStar [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Orbital Receivables [Member]
Contingencies [Line Items]
Financing receivables	$ 441,353,000	$ 417,496,000		$ 22,600,000	$ 354,000,000
Contracts in process			2,000,000
Long-term receivables			10,000,000	8,100,000
Orbital receivables			9,000,000	17,000,000
Fresh Start fair value adjustment, orbital, net					16,000,000
Gross orbital receivables on launched satellites					229,000,000
Unlaunched	199,146,000	181,489,000			141,000,000
Sale of part of principal dues from customer in bankruptcy to third party			7,000,000
Payment received from client reorganization plan				23,800,000
Sale of part of interest on dues from customer in bankruptcy to third party			1,400,000
Unsecured claim				5,000,000
Customer payment obligations			23,000,000
Default cost includes re-procurement costs and interest	$ 209,000,000