Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
2020 Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Principal amount of senior notes issued	$ 575,000	$ 575,000
Satellite Performance Incentives Obligation [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest on in-orbit satellite performance incentive obligation	7.00%
Period of in-orbit satellite performance incentive obligation including interest	15 years
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Satellite performance incentives obligation and accrued interest	$ 21,900	22,000
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Ex-Im Credit Facility [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of long term debt	293,400	219,900
Level 1 [Member] | 2020 Notes [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of long term debt	$ 593,700	$ 597,300