Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 11, 2011	Jul. 05, 2012	Mar. 28, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from related parties				$ 22,427,000	$ 33,594,000	$ 46,583,000	$ 75,845,000
Common stock acquired by an unaffiliated third party						90.00%
Special cash distribution received from Telesat						375,809,000
Related party transaction, expenses from transactions with related party				10,200,000	34,600,000	24,300,000	68,500,000
Duration for shares to be paid, days						10 days
Gain on transactions with affiliate					6,900,000
Gain (loss) on transaction with subsidiary classified as discontinued operations							1,800,000
Proceeds from cumulative intercompany profit						13,000,000
Telesat [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership interest				64.00%		64.00%
Amounts receivable by SS/L from Affiliate Telesat related to satellite construction contracts				9,400,000		9,400,000		4,600,000
Related party transaction, date						Oct. 31, 2007
Consulting Agreement, term						7 years
Consulting Agreement, additional renewal term						7 years
Revenue from related parties				22,501,000	33,587,000	46,712,000	75,825,000
Consulting Agreement, annual fee						5,000,000
Related party transaction, rate						7.00%
Related party transaction, consulting fee				1,250,000	1,250,000	2,500,000	2,500,000
Long-term receivable related to Consulting Agreement				22,300,000		22,300,000		20,700,000
Payment received from Telesat related to Consulting Agreement						1,600,000	1,600,000
Indemnification liabilities recognized with related party affiliate Telesat				500,000		500,000		500,000
Indemnification assets with related party affiliate Telesat						2,600,000		2,600,000
Tax recovery benefit included in long-term liabilities						2,100,000		2,100,000
Special cash distribution received from Telesat		46,000,000	376,000,000
Payment of launch and associated services actual costs by parent, percentage						15.00%
Premium from sale of Loral Payload	13,000,000
Reimbursement of costs under payload and related agreements	48,200,000
Payments to affiliates	1,400,000
Liability for ChinaSat future use of transponders				2,500,000		2,500,000		3,700,000
Interest expense on ChinaSat liability				100,000	100,000	300,000	300,000
Payments to related party pursuant to the ChinaSat agreement						1,400,000
Duration of contract assigned to Telesat						15 years
ViaSat [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from related parties				200,000	700,000	500,000	5,400,000
Payments to affiliates	3,900,000
XTAR [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership interest				56.00%		56.00%
Management fee charged as a percentage of revenue						3.70%
Management fees due from joint venture XTAR				$ 4,900,000		$ 4,900,000		$ 4,200,000
MHR Funds [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of outstanding voting common stock						38.40%		38.60%
Percentage of combined ownership of voting and non-voting common stock				57.50%		57.50%		57.70%