Industry Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 350,599,000	$ 337,726,000	$ 668,302,000	$ 633,916,000
Operating income	22,807,000	12,228,000	32,924,000	29,593,000
Identifiable assets	1,224,257,000		1,224,257,000		1,062,536,000
Capital expenditures	15,458,000	18,494,000	32,774,000	33,591,000
Depreciation and amortization	8,629,000	6,150,000	16,476,000	11,393,000
Intersegment revenues	22,100,000	18,300,000	55,100,000	30,500,000
Launch Vehicles [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	131,367,000	95,702,000	236,640,000	196,044,000
Operating income	6,870,000	3,469,000	1,821,000	8,000,000
Identifiable assets	200,116,000		200,116,000		212,360,000
Capital expenditures	10,184,000	12,209,000	20,696,000	22,425,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,952,000	1,808,000	7,272,000	3,614,000
Intersegment revenues	20,300,000	16,500,000	51,700,000	27,000,000
Satellites and Space Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	138,174,000	139,423,000	290,833,000	239,944,000
Operating income	8,474,000	7,512,000	18,784,000	15,219,000
Identifiable assets	293,661,000		293,661,000		268,804,000
Capital expenditures	2,016,000	1,797,000	3,845,000	3,327,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,805,000	2,515,000	5,516,000	4,780,000
Intersegment revenues	1,300,000	1,500,000	2,500,000	2,800,000
Advanced Space Programs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	103,188,000	120,926,000	195,898,000	228,469,000
Operating income	7,463,000	2,867,000	12,319,000	7,994,000
Identifiable assets	307,228,000		307,228,000		188,184,000
Capital expenditures	2,480,000	3,672,000	7,196,000	6,182,000
Depreciation and amortization	118,000	116,000	235,000	119,000
Intersegment revenues	500,000	300,000	900,000	700,000
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(22,130,000)	(18,325,000)	(55,069,000)	(30,541,000)
Operating income	0	(1,620,000)	0	(1,620,000)
Identifiable assets	423,252,000		423,252,000		393,188,000
Capital expenditures	778,000	816,000	1,037,000	1,657,000
Depreciation and amortization	$ 1,754,000	$ 1,711,000	$ 3,453,000	$ 2,880,000