Segments (Summarized Financial Information Of Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported	$ 286,713,000		$ 279,899,000
Adjusted EBITDA	5,955,000	[1]	35,438,000	[1]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported	(8,208,000)	[1]	(7,986,000)	[1]
Operating income (loss) as reported	(2,253,000)		27,452,000
Assets, Total	1,874,022,000	[2]			1,836,153,000	[2]
Milestone payments received from Telesat	24,200,000		42,200,000
Telesat [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,400,000,000				2,400,000,000
Satellite Manufacturing External [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported	262,496,000		237,655,000
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported	24,217,000	[3]	43,074,000	[3]
Satellite Manufacturing Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported	286,713,000		280,729,000
Adjusted EBITDA	10,293,000	[1]	40,515,000	[1]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported	(7,936,000)	[1]	(7,691,000)	[1]
Assets, Total	973,496,000	[2]			929,408,000	[2]
Satellite Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported	196,023,000	[4]	205,722,000	[4]
Adjusted EBITDA	149,408,000	[1],[4]	158,947,000	[1],[4]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported	(60,488,000)	[1],[4]	(62,191,000)	[1],[4]
Assets, Total	5,429,855,000	[2],[4],[5]			5,724,418,000	[2],[4],[5]
Operating Segment Before Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported	482,736,000		486,451,000
Adjusted EBITDA	155,363,000	[1]	194,664,000	[1]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported	(68,696,000)	[1]	(70,177,000)	[1]
Assets, Total	7,294,154,000	[2]			7,183,327,000	[2]
Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported			(830,000)	[6]
Adjusted EBITDA			(279,000)	[1],[6]
Affiliate Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues as reported	(196,023,000)	[4]	(205,722,000)	[4]
Adjusted EBITDA	(149,408,000)	[1],[4]	(158,947,000)	[1],[4]
Affiliate eliminations	60,488,000	[1],[4]	62,191,000	[1],[4]
Assets, Total	(5,420,132,000)	[2],[4]			(5,347,174,000)	[2],[4]
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA	(4,338,000)	[1],[7]	(4,798,000)	[1],[7]
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation as reported	(272,000)	[1]	(295,000)	[1]
Assets, Total	$ 890,803,000	[2]			$ 529,501,000	[2]

[1] Compensation expense related to SS/L Phantom SARs and restricted stock units paid in cash or expected to be paid in cash is included in Adjusted EBITDA. Compensation expense related to SS/L Phantom SARs and restricted stock units paid in Loral common stock or expected to be paid in Loral common stock is included in depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation.

[2] Amounts are presented after the elimination of intercompany profit.

[3] Intersegment revenues include $24.2 million and $42.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, of revenue from affiliates.

[4] Satellite services represents Telesat. Affiliate eliminations represent the elimination of amounts attributable to Telesat whose results are reported under the equity method of accounting in our condensed consolidated statements of operations (see Note 9).

[5] Includes $2.4 billion of satellite services goodwill related to Telesat as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

[6] Represents the elimination of intercompany sales and intercompany Adjusted EBITDA for a satellite under construction by SS/L for Loral.

[7] Includes corporate expenses incurred in support of our operations and includes our equity investments in XTAR and Globalstar service providers.