| 
           Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $) 
        In Thousands  | 
        6 Months Ended | 
|---|---|
| 
           Jun. 30, 2011 
         | 
      |
| Commitments And Contingencies (Additional Textuals) | |
| Reserve for uncertain taxes | $ 1,496 | 
| In the event certain new products are not shipped by a distributor to a customer within 90 days, the Company has agreed to purchase and take title to the product | 90 days | 
| Accrual related to contingent performance payments for XM-3 and XM-4 | 29,240 | 
| Additional payments required if XM-4 continues to operate above baseline specifications | 10,000 | 
| Period beyond expected operating performance of design life for XM-4 | 5 years | 
| Accrual related to contingent performance for FM-5 | 11,659 | 
| Accrual related to contingent performance for XM-5 | $ 21,450 | 
| Operating lease terms | 1-15 Years | 
| 
           FM-5, XM-5, XM-4 and XM-3 [Member] 
         | 
        |
| Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract] | |
| Operating performance over design life | 15 years | 
| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Accrual related to contingent performance payments for FM-5. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Accrual related to contingent performance payments for XM-5. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Accrual related to contingent in-orbit performance payments for XM-3 and XM-4. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Additional payments required if XM-4 continues to operate above baseline specifications during the five years beyond the satellite's fifteen-year design life. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Agreement to repurchase of certain products shipped to distributor from date of shipment. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Commitments And Contingencies Additional Textuals. 
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| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Commitments and Contingencies. 
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| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          operating lease terms. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Period beyond expected operating performance of design life. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Reserve for uncertain taxes. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Satellite expected operating performance over design life. 
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