Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.14)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 14

-Article 5

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- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

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- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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No definition available.

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Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 2,993.4		$ 2,993.4		$ 1,791.4
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(831.2)		(831.2)		(676.2)
Property and equipment, net	2,162.2		2,162.2		1,115.2
Depreciation	57.1	28.9	159.6	86.5
Satellites
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	1,323.6		1,323.6		1,110.8
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(625.6)		(625.6)		(530.0)
Property and equipment, net	698.0		698.0		580.8
Satellites \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			1 year
Satellites \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			12 years
Quickbird Satellite
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			12 years 2 months 12 days
Total property and equipment	174.4		174.4		174.4
WorldView-1 Satellite
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			10 years 6 months
Total property and equipment	473.2		473.2		473.2
WorldView-2 Satellite
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			11 years
Total property and equipment	463.2		463.2		463.2
IKONOS Satellite
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			6 months
Total property and equipment	1.0		1.0
GeoEye One Satellite
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			5 years
Total property and equipment	211.8		211.8
Construction in progress
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	1,222.8		1,222.8		486.8
Computer equipment and software
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			3 years
Total property and equipment	304.1		304.1		140.6
Machinery and equipment, including ground terminals
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			5 years
Total property and equipment	96.2		96.2		32.7
Furniture, fixtures and other
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment	40.3		40.3		20.2
Furniture, fixtures and other \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			3 years
Furniture, fixtures and other \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			7 years
Land and buildings
Property and Equipment
Depreciable Life			34 years
Total property and equipment	$ 6.4		$ 6.4		$ 0.3