Contracts-In-Process And Long-Term Receivables (Aging Of Financing Receivables) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	$ 465,194	$ 417,496
Un launched	177,021	181,489
Launched	264,220	213,334
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging	288,173	236,007
Current	288,173	233,624
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days		2,383
Financing receivables classified as assets held for sale	(441,241)
Financing receivables, as reported	23,953
Deferred Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total		1,973
Un launched
Launched
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging		1,973
Current		1,973
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days
Satellite Manufacturing And Consulting Service [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	388,067	377,525
Un launched	99,894	141,518
Launched	264,220	213,334
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging	288,173	236,007
Current	288,173	233,624
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days		2,383
Unlaunched Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing receivables classified as assets held for sale	(177,021)
Financing receivables, as reported
Launched Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing receivables classified as assets held for sale	(264,220)
Financing receivables, as reported
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing receivables classified as assets held for sale	(264,220)
Financing receivables, as reported	23,953
Current Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing receivables classified as assets held for sale	(264,220)
Financing receivables, as reported	23,953
90 Days Or Less [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing receivables, as reported
More Than 90 Days [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing receivables, as reported
Long term orbitals [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing Orbital Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total		340,015
Un launched		141,518
Launched		198,497
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging		198,497
Current		198,497
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days
Long term orbitals [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing And Consulting Service [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	348,276
Un launched	99,894
Launched	248,382
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging	248,382
Current	248,382
Short term unbilled [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing Orbital Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total		11,370
Un launched
Launched		11,370
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging		11,370
Current		11,370
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days
Short term unbilled [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing And Consulting Service [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	12,592
Launched	12,592
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging	12,592
Current	12,592
Short term billed [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing Orbital Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total		3,467
Un launched
Launched		3,467
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging		3,467
Current		1,084
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days		2,383
Short term billed [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing And Consulting Service [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	3,246
Launched	3,246
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging	3,246
Current	3,246
Orbitals Receivables [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing Orbital Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total		354,852
Un launched		141,518
Launched		213,334
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging		213,334
Current		210,951
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days		2,383
Orbitals Receivables [Member] | Satellite Manufacturing And Consulting Service [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	364,114
Un launched	99,894
Launched	264,220
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging	264,220
Current	264,220
Telesat Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	23,953	20,700
Un launched
Launched
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging	23,953	20,700
Current	23,953	20,700
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days
Unbilled Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Total	77,127	39,971
Un launched	77,127	39,971
Launched
Financing Receivables Subject To Aging
Current
90 Days or Less
More Than 90 Days