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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Investments in Affiliates (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2020	Dec. 06, 2019	Oct. 11, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates				$ 105,402		$ 105,402		$ 90,184
Operating lease right of use asset				508		508		$ 988	$ 300
Operating lease liability				513		513
Increase (decrease) due from affiliates						5,854	$ 0
Equity in Telesat-related other comprehensive income (loss), Before-Tax Amount				$ (7,477)	$ (16,465)	$ 6,132	$ (29,915)
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Economic interest in affiliate				62.70%		62.70%		62.70%
Voting interest in affiliate				32.60%		32.60%		32.60%
Investments in affiliates				$ 105,402		$ 105,402		$ 90,184
Operating lease right of use asset									19,600
Operating lease liability									$ 20,000
Equity in Telesat-related other comprehensive income (loss), Before-Tax Amount				$ (7,500)		6,100
Annual Consulting fees payable in cash						$ 5,000
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility		$ 200,000
Indenture maturity date		Dec. 01, 2024
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member] \| Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Term loan borrowing		$ 1,908,500
Debt instrument, issuance date		Dec. 06, 2019
Indenture maturity date		Dec. 01, 2026
Minimum total leverage ratio				4.50		4.50
Minimum total leverage ratio to incur debt and make payments				5.07		5.07
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates				$ 0		$ 0		0
Percentage of ownership interest				56.00%		56.00%
Globalstar de Mexico [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates				$ 0		$ 0		0
Senior Notes 6.500% [Member] \| Telesat Holdings Inc [Member] \| Subordinated Debt [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Debt instrument, issuance date			Oct. 11, 2019
Indenture maturity date			Oct. 01, 2027
Senior notes issued and outstanding			$ 550,000
Interest on notes			6.50%
Senior Notes 8.875% [Member] \| Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Extinguishment of debt, amount			$ 500,000
Debt instrument, repurchase date			Oct. 11, 2019
Indenture maturity date			Nov. 15, 2024
Interest on notes			8.875%
Senior secured notes 4.875% [Member] \| Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Indenture maturity date		Jun. 01, 2027
Senior notes issued and outstanding		$ 400,000
Interest on notes		4.875%
Former Term Loan B - U.S. Facility [Member] \| Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Term loan borrowing		$ 0
Debt instrument, repurchase date		Dec. 06, 2019
Transaction, Management Agreement [Member] \| XTAR, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Amount due to Loral under the Loral Management Agreement				6,600		6,600		6,700
Amount of doubtful accounts receivable				$ 6,600		$ 6,600		$ 6,600
Increase (decrease) due from affiliates	$ (5,900)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] \| Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity in Telesat-related other comprehensive income (loss), Before-Tax Amount					$ (22,100)