Stock Plans and Equity Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period (in years)	3 years
Discount from market price (in hundredths)	85.00%
Shares of common stock available for purchase under ESPP (in shares)	326,000
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Lower range limit (in dollars per share)	$ 9.71
Upper range limit (in dollars per share)	$ 12.98
Stock-based compensation, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense recognized	$ 7,700,000		$ 6,400,000		$ 6,200,000
Income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense	3,000,000		2,500,000		2,000,000
Intrinsic value of options exercised, computed as the market price on the exercise date less the price paid to exercise the options	4,400,000		2,600,000		3,800,000
Cash received from exercise of options	3,500,000		2,100,000		1,400,000
Grant date fair value of vested restricted stock units	7,000,000		5,500,000		6,100,000
Tax benefit recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital related to stock-based compensation transactions	2,383,000		216,000		1,235,000
Shares of common stock available for grant under the company's stock-based incentive plans (in shares)	2,500,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of restricted stock units that are expected to vest	22,100,000
Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock units	12,400,000
Unrecognized compensation expense, weighted-average period of recognition (in years)	2 years 1 month 2 days
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding, all fully vested	800,000
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum expiration term following grant date (in years)	10 years
Summary of Stock Option Activity [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)	557,954		902,287		1,226,582
Granted (in shares)	0		0		0
Exercised (in shares)	(480,379)		(343,734)		(317,647)
Forfeited (in shares)	0		0		(448)
Expired (in shares)	(2,575)		(599)		(6,200)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	75,000	[1]	557,954		902,287
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 7.84		$ 7.25		$ 6.46
Granted (in dollars per share)	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 7.19		$ 6.28		$ 4.26
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$ 0		$ 0		$ 5.79
Expired (in dollars per share)	$ 7.16		$ 5.79		$ 3.91
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 12.07		$ 7.84		$ 7.25
Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years)	1 year 6 months
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Summary of Restricted Stock Units Activity [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)	935,633		782,112		684,674
Granted (in shares)	513,490	[2]	529,446	[2]	442,110	[2]
Vested (in shares)	(476,811)		(345,945)		(330,356)
Forfeited (in shares)	(23,468)		(29,980)		(14,316)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	948,844		935,633		782,112
Weighted Average Measurement Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 14.42		$ 16.07		$ 16.38
Granted (in dollars per share)	$ 18.65		$ 12.90		$ 17.39
Vested (in dollars per share)	$ 14.70		$ 15.77		$ 18.47
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$ 15.38		$ 14.85		$ 16.57
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 16.55		$ 14.42		$ 16.07
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Stock-based compensation, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense recognized	$ 400,000		$ 300,000		$ 400,000

[1] The weighted average remaining contractual term is 1.51 years, and the range of exercise prices is $9.71-$12.98. All outstanding options were exercisable as of December 31, 2013.

[2] The fair value of restricted stock unit grants is determined based on the closing market price of Orbital’s common stock on the date of grant. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures.