Property and Equipment - Schedule of Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,594,877	$ 1,561,497
Accumulated depreciation	(912,290)	(845,588)
Total property and equipment, net	682,587	715,909
Property and equipment placed into service	10,300
Internally developed and purchased software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	26,057	23,984
Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	11,042	9,679
Land and buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	1,166	3,110
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	1,668	1,655
Globalstar System
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	1,554,944	1,523,069
Globalstar System | Ground component
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	279,984	272,492
Globalstar System | First and second-generation satellites in service | Space component
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	1,195,509	1,195,509
Globalstar System | Second-generation satellite, on-ground spare | Space component
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	32,443	32,443
Globalstar System | Construction in progress | Space component
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	9,426	398
Globalstar System | Construction in progress | Ground component
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	34,047	19,327
Globalstar System | Construction in progress | Other
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 3,535	$ 2,900