Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 338,207,000		$ 321,976,000		$ 979,616,000		$ 989,870,000
Operating income (loss)	33,260,000		25,606,000		71,502,000		83,019,000
Identifiable assets	1,349,708,000				1,349,708,000				1,284,761,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	8,621,000		7,696,000		24,784,000		27,529,000
Depreciation and amortization	10,622,000		10,766,000		31,728,000		31,024,000
Intersegment revenues	3,600,000		15,300,000		12,800,000		40,200,000
Launch Vehicles [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	129,906,000		127,870,000		392,987,000		396,189,000
Operating income (loss)	16,792,000		11,267,000		39,570,000		33,822,000
Identifiable assets	207,591,000				207,591,000				195,294,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	3,511,000		2,311,000		8,481,000		6,984,000
Depreciation and amortization	4,349,000		4,745,000		13,139,000		13,622,000
Intersegment revenues	2,500,000		14,100,000		9,400,000		36,100,000
Satelites and Space Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	105,734,000		88,125,000		275,768,000		282,736,000
Operating income (loss)	5,454,000		8,141,000		11,465,000		29,615,000
Identifiable assets	295,562,000				295,562,000				288,343,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	3,133,000		4,175,000		10,725,000		14,548,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,247,000		2,067,000		6,366,000		6,299,000
Intersegment revenues	900,000		1,000,000		2,800,000		3,300,000
Advanced Space Programs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	106,160,000		121,259,000		323,651,000		351,138,000
Operating income (loss)	14,224,000		6,198,000		30,290,000		19,582,000
Identifiable assets	330,055,000				330,055,000				448,015,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	496,000		836,000		3,086,000		3,598,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,467,000		2,403,000		7,485,000		6,438,000
Intersegment revenues	200,000		200,000		600,000		800,000
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(3,593,000)	[2]	(15,278,000)	[2]	(12,790,000)	[2]	(40,193,000)	[2]
Operating income (loss)	(3,210,000)	[3]	0		(9,823,000)	[3]	0
Identifiable assets	516,500,000				516,500,000				353,109,000	[1]
Capital expenditures	1,481,000		374,000		2,492,000		2,399,000
Depreciation and amortization	$ 1,559,000		$ 1,551,000		$ 4,738,000		$ 4,665,000

[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 September 30, 2014 2013, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 2013 Launch Vehicles $2.5 $14.1 $9.4 $36.1 Satellites and Space Systems $0.9 $1.0 $2.8 $3.3 Advanced Space Programs $0.2 $0.2 $0.6 $0.8 Total intersegment revenues $3.6 $15.3 $12.8 $40.2

[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).