Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 318,124,000		$ 333,081,000		$ 641,409,000		$ 667,894,000
Operating income (loss)	15,260,000		26,306,000		38,242,000		57,413,000
Identifiable assets	1,307,179,000				1,307,179,000				1,284,761,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	7,720,000		11,436,000		16,163,000		19,833,000
Depreciation and amortization	10,635,000		10,434,000		21,106,000		20,258,000
Intersegment revenues	5,100,000		11,400,000		9,200,000		24,900,000
Launch Vehicles [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	125,840,000		134,027,000		263,081,000		268,319,000
Operating income (loss)	11,040,000		10,521,000		22,779,000		22,554,000
Identifiable assets	190,374,000				190,374,000				195,294,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	1,835,000		2,976,000		4,970,000		4,673,000
Depreciation and amortization	4,401,000		4,618,000		8,790,000		8,877,000
Intersegment revenues	3,900,000		10,300,000		6,900,000		22,000,000
Satelites and Space Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	87,244,000		93,828,000		170,034,000		194,611,000
Operating income (loss)	2,713,000		10,637,000		6,010,000		21,475,000
Identifiable assets	306,407,000				306,407,000				288,343,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	3,522,000		5,337,000		7,592,000		10,373,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,088,000		2,074,000		4,119,000		4,232,000
Intersegment revenues	1,000,000		900,000		1,900,000		2,300,000
Advanced Space Programs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	110,178,000		116,620,000		217,491,000		229,879,000
Operating income (loss)	8,120,000		5,148,000		16,066,000		13,384,000
Identifiable assets	354,188,000				354,188,000				448,015,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	2,012,000		1,311,000		2,590,000		2,762,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,557,000		2,179,000		5,018,000		4,035,000
Intersegment revenues	200,000		200,000		400,000		600,000
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(5,138,000)	[2]	(11,394,000)	[2]	(9,197,000)	[2]	(24,915,000)	[2]
Operating income (loss)	(6,613,000)	[3]	0		(6,613,000)	[3]	0
Identifiable assets	456,210,000				456,210,000				353,109,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	351,000		1,812,000		1,011,000		2,025,000
Depreciation and amortization	$ 1,589,000		$ 1,563,000		$ 3,179,000		$ 3,114,000

[1] As of December 31, 2013.

[2] Corporate and other revenues are comprised solely of the elimination of intersegment revenues summarized as follows (in millions): Quarters Ended June 30, 2014 2013, Six Months Ended June 30, 2014 2013 Launch Vehicles $3.9 $10.3 $6.9 $22.0 Satellites and Space Systems $1.0 $0.9 $1.9 $2.3 Advanced Space Programs $0.2 $0.2 $0.4 $0.6 Total intersegment revenues $5.1 $11.4 $9.2 $24.9

[3] The corporate and other operating loss in 2014 is comprised solely of professional fees and other costs pertaining to the proposed merger (see Note 2).