Income Taxes (Summary of Uncertain Tax Positions Included in Income Tax Provision) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Current (provision) benefit for UTPs	$ (476)	$ (460)
Deferred benefit (provision) for UTPs	100	93
Tax (provision) benefit for UTPs	$ (376)	$ (367)

Income tax provision benefit for uncertain tax positions.

No definition available.

Name:	lorl_IncomeTaxProvisionBenefitForUncertainTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	lorl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration