Industry Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 338,030,000		$ 317,703,000
Operating income	23,846,000		10,116,000
Identifiable assets	1,180,254,000				1,130,800,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	11,794,000		17,317,000
Depreciation and amortization	9,019,000		7,847,000
Intersegment revenues	14,300,000		32,900,000
Launch Vehicles [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	126,122,000		105,273,000
Operating income	8,916,000		(5,049,000)
Identifiable assets	229,056,000				210,642,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	7,251,000		10,512,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,733,000		3,320,000
Intersegment revenues	12,500,000		31,400,000
Satelites and Space Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	111,283,000		152,659,000
Operating income	7,376,000		10,310,000
Identifiable assets	277,429,000				282,344,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	2,286,000		1,829,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,964,000		1,745,000	[2]
Intersegment revenues	1,700,000		1,100,000
Advanced Space Programs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	114,963,000		92,710,000
Operating income	7,554,000		4,855,000
Identifiable assets	331,575,000				254,769,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	1,974,000		4,716,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,763,000		1,083,000	[2]
Intersegment revenues	100,000		400,000
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(14,338,000)	[3]	(32,939,000)	[3]
Identifiable assets	342,194,000				383,045,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	283,000		260,000
Depreciation and amortization	$ 1,559,000		$ 1,699,000

[1] As of December 31, 2011.

[2] Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

[3] Corporate and other revenues are comprised solely of the elimination of intersegment revenues summarized as follows (in millions): Launch Vehicles Quarters Ended March 31, 2012 2011 12.5 31.4 Satellites and Space Systems Quarters Ended March 31, 2012 2011 1.7 1.1 Advanced Space Programs Quarters Ended March 31, 2012 2011 0.1 0.4 Total intersegment revenues Quarters Ended March 31, 2012 2011 14.3 32.9.