Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Decrease to unrecognized tax benefits	$ 41,115	$ 1,062
Interest income (expense)	6,752	429
Penalties		5,985
Total	$ 47,867	$ 7,476

This element represents increase/decrease to prior period liability for unrecognized tax benefits.

No definition available.

Name:	lorl_IncomeTaxLiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	lorl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total increases and decreases to income tax liability, interest expense and penalties expense computed by applying the applicable statutory rates for tax, interest and penalties to the difference between a tax position recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken in a tax return of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lorl_TotalIncomeTaxInterestAndPenaltiesExpenseOnUncertainTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	lorl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense for penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest expense for an underpayment of income taxes.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration