Discontinued Operations (Summary of SS/L's Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 330,342
Property, plant and equipment, net	213,140
Long-term receivables	348,276
Other assets	67,778
Total assets held for sale	959,536
Liabilities
Current liabilities	368,274
Pension and other postretirement liabilities	254,854
Long-term liabilities	28,832
Total liabilities held for sale	$ 651,960

Assets of disposal group including discontinued operation, long term receivables.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Disposal group, including discontinued operation, pension and other postretirement liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate value (measured at the lower of net carrying value or fair value less cost of disposal) for assets of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), to be sold or that has been disposed of through sale, as of the financial statement date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 46

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The aggregate value (measured at the lower of net carrying value or fair value less cost of disposal) for current assets (assets with expected useful life shorter than one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), to be sold or that has subsequently been disposed of through sale, as of the financial statement date.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of assets not otherwise specified, and which are expected to be realized or consumed after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. For an unclassified balance sheet, represents both current and noncurrent other assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 47

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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- Definition

For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), obligations not otherwise itemized that are due after one year or operating cycle, if longer, from the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), carrying value (net of accumulated depreciation and any write-downs) of tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The obligations arising from the sale, disposal, or planned sale in the near future (generally within one year) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

+ References

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of current obligations (due less than one year or one operating cycle, if longer) arising from the sale, disposal or planned sale in the near future (generally within one year) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

+ References

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