Document and Entity Information Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Statement Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Revenue, Net Revenue Net revenue Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Costs and expenses: Cost of Revenue Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization expense Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions Restructuring charges Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Loss on abandonment of asset Operating Income (Loss) Income from operations Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income, net Interest Income (Expense), Nonoperating, Net Interest expense, net Interest expense, net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest (Loss) income before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax benefit (expense) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net (loss) income Net (loss) income Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact Preferred stock dividends Undistributed Earnings, Basic Net income less preferred stock dividends Net Loss Per Share Earnings (loss) per share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic loss per share (in dollars per share) Basic (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted loss per share (in dollars per share) Diluted (in dollars per share) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic Basic (in shares) Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding Diluted Diluted (in shares) Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Class of Stock [Axis] Class Of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets, Current [Abstract] CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Restricted cash Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.5 and $0.5, respectively Deferred Set-up Costs, Current Short-term deferred contract costs Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid and current assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current Deferred taxes Deferred tax asset, current Assets, Current Total current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $985.8 and $1095.5, respectively Goodwill Goodwill Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $22.1 and $19.5, respectively Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent Long-term restricted cash Deferred Set-up Costs, Noncurrent Long-term deferred contract costs Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Assets Total assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities, Current [Abstract] CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Less: current maturities of long-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Other accrued liabilities Total other accrued liabilities Deferred Revenue, Current Current portion of deferred revenue Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Deferred revenue Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Long-term debt, net of discount and debt issuance costs Total long-term debt, net Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent Long-term deferred tax liability, net Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 16) Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] DigitalGlobe, Inc. stockholders' equity: Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 0.08 shares authorized; 0.08 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock; $0.001 par value; 250.0 shares authorized; 76.5 shares issued and 72.5 shares outstanding at March 31, 2015 and 76.1 shares issued and 73.2 shares outstanding at December 31, 2014 Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, at cost; 4.0 shares at March 31, 2015 and 2.9 shares at December 31, 2014 Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total DigitalGlobe, Inc. stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars) Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accumulated depreciation and amortization Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation (in dollars) Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Amortization Intangible assets, accumulated amortization (in dollars) Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred stock par value Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares issued Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury stock, shares Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: The aggregate amount of non cash amortization related to aerial imagery, deferred contract costs and lease incentives. Amortization of Aerial Image Library Deferred Contract Costs and Lease Incentive Amortization of aerial image library, deferred contract costs and lease incentive Share-based Compensation Non-cash stock-based compensation expense, net of capitalized stock-based compensation expense Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to allocate debt discount and premium and debt issuance costs over the term of the related debt instruments, net of interest capitalized during the period. May include other noncash adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities that are not separately disclosed. Interest Expense and Other Amortization of debt issuance costs and accretion of debt discount, net of capitalized interest Noncash adjustment to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used in) operating activities for deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations. Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit Cash Flow Impact Deferred income taxes Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation Other Noncash Income (Expense) Other Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in working capital, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, net Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Charges Deferred contract costs Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other current and non-current assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash flows provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Payments for Construction in Process Construction in progress additions Payments to Acquire Other Property, Plant, and Equipment Property and equipment additions Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Decrease in restricted cash Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash flows used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Repayments of Senior Debt Repayment of debt Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Principal payments on capital lease obligations Repurchase of common stock Repurchase of common stock Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Proceeds from exercise of stock options Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock Preferred stock dividend payment Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash flows used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Interest Paid, Net Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized amounts of $11.5 million and $21.1 million, respectively Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Changes to the accrual for future cash outflow to pay for purchases of fixed assets and construction in progress expenditures which have occurred. Capital and Construction in Progress Expenditures Incurred but not Yet Paid Changes to non-cash property, equipment and construction in progress accruals, including interest Future cash outflow to pay for preferred stock dividends that have been declared. Preferred Dividends Accrued Not Yet Paid Non-cash preferred stock dividend accrual Interest Paid, Capitalized Interest capitalized General Information Nature of Operations [Text Block] General Information Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property and Equipment Business Acquisitions Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Business Acquisitions Goodwill and Other Intangibles Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangibles Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Fair Values of Financial Instruments Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Values of Financial Instruments Restructuring and Related Activities Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring Charges Other Accrued Liabilities Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Accrued Liabilities Deferred Revenue. Long-term Contracts or Programs Disclosure [Text Block] Deferred Revenue Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Subsequent Events Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Loss Earnings Per Share Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Significant Customers and Geographic Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Significant Customers and Geographic Information Disclosure of accounting policy for principles of consolidation and basis of presentation. Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation [Policy Text Block] Basis of Presentation Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Use of Estimates New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Recent Accounting Pronouncements Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block] Comprehensive Income Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Property Plant And Equipment Type [Domain] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] In-orbit satellites. Satellite [Member] Satellites Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Property and Equipment Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block] Summary of acquired intangible assets Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block] Schedule of estimated future annual amortization expense for acquired intangible assets Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block] Summary of company's long-term debt Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block] Schedule of future debt payments Tabular disclosure of total interest costs incurred during the period and either capitalized or charged against earnings. Interest Costs Incurred [Table Text Block] Summary of the interest expense, accretion of debt discount, amortization of the deferred financing fees, line of credit fees, interest capitalized and interest Income Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost [Table Text Block] Schedule of the components of restructuring liability Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] Schedule of other accrued liabilities Deferred Revenue, by Arrangement, Disclosure [Table Text Block] Schedule of roll forward of the deferred revenue balance Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Schedule of the number of weighted average shares used to compute basic and diluted EPS Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers, by Reporting Segments [Table] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Sales Revenue Net [Member] Revenue Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items] Significant Customers and Geographic Information Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block] Schedule of the revenue for two groups Revenue from External Customers by Geographic Areas [Table Text Block] Schedule of the total U.S and International revenue Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table] Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisitions Represents information pertaining to high-resolution earth imagery commercially available. Image Library High Resolution Earth Imagery Commercially Available High-resolution earth Imagery commercially available (in kms) Represents an area which is the multiple times the landmass of the earth. Landmass of earth multiple Multiple times the landmass of the earth Represents information pertaining to collection capacity capability of imagery. Image Library Collection Capacity Capability Of Imagery Collection capacity capability (sq kms per year) Represents information pertaining to collection capacity capability of imagery's equivalent to earth's land surface area. Image Library Earths Land Surface Area Earth's land surface area QuickBird satellite. Quickbird Satellite [Member] Quickbird Satellite WorldView-1 satellite. World View One Satellite [Member] WorldView-1 Satellite WorldView-2 satellite. World View Two Satellite [Member] WorldView-2 Satellite IKONOS Satellite. Ikonos Satellite [Member] IKONOS Satellite GeoEye One Satellite. Geoeye One Satellite [Member] GeoEye-1 Satellite Construction In Progress [Member] Construction in progress Computer equipment and software. Computer Equipment And Software [Member] Computer equipment and software Machinery And Equipment [Member] Machinery and equipment, including ground terminals Equipment commonly used in offices and stores that have no permanent connection to the structure of a building or utilities. Examples include, but are not limited to, desks, chairs, tables, and bookcases. Also includes other types of property, plant and equipment not separately disclosed. Furniture Fixtures And Other [Member] Furniture, fixtures and other Land And Building [Member] Land and buildings Range [Axis] Range [Member] Range [Domain] Minimum [Member] Minimum Maximum [Member] Maximum Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life Depreciable Life Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Total property and equipment Property, Plant, and Equipment, Additional Disclosures Property and equipment, additional disclosure Depreciation Depreciation expense Business Combination, Consideration Transferred [Abstract] Total purchase price for the acquisition of GeoEye Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Liabilities Incurred Liabilities accrued in consideration for business acquisition Long-term debt issued to redeem GeoEye's long-term debt including early termination penalties and accrued interest Business Combination, Consideration Transferred Aggregate purchase price Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract] Final allocation of the total purchase price to the acquired assets and liabilities assumed Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill Identifiable intangible assets: Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net Fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net Aggregate purchase price Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount Goodwill associated with acquisition that is deductible for income tax purposes Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Represents information pertaining to Spatial Energy. Spatial Energy [Member] Spatial Energy Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] Finite Lived Intangible Assets Major Class Name [Domain] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain] Technology Based Intangible Assets [Member] Technology Customer Relationships [Member] Customer Relationships Trademarks [Member] Trademarks Represents FCC licenses and other intangible assets not otherwise defined in the taxonomy. Fcc Licenses And Other Intangible Assets [Member] FCC licenses and other Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] Intangible assets Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease) Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life Useful Life (in years) Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross Gross Carrying Amount Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Net Carrying Amount Amortization of Intangible Assets Amortization of intangible assets Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract] Estimated future annual amortization expense for acquired intangible assets Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year Remainder of 2015 Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two 2016 Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three 2017 Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four 2018 Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five 2019 Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five Thereafter Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument Name [Domain] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Represents the 2013 Credit facility entered into by the entity, consisting of a term loan and revolving credit facility. Credit Facility2013 [Member] 2013 Credit Facility Represents senior notes bearing interest at 5.25% per year and maturing February 1, 2021. Senior Notes2021 [Member] Senior Notes Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Longterm Debt Type [Domain] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] The senior secured term loan facility component of the credit facility. Senior Secured Term Loan Facility [Member] Senior Secured Term Loan Facility Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility Long-term Debt, Gross Total borrowings Total borrowings Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount Less: unamortized discounts Long-term Debt Total Carrying Value Total borrowings, net Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity Maximum borrowing capacity Debt Instrument, Face Amount Senior notes issued Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract] Long-term debt (excluding interest payments) Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal, Remainder of Fiscal Year Remainder of 2015 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two 2016 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three 2017 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four 2018 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five 2019 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five Thereafter Interest Expense, Debt [Abstract] Interest Expense, net Interest Costs Incurred Interest Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to amortize deferred financing costs and debt discount and premium associated with the related debt instruments. Also includes line of credit fees included in interest expense for the period. Accretion Expense Deferred Financing Amortization and Line of Credit Fees Accretion of debt discount, deferred financing amortization and line of credit fees Interest Costs Capitalized Adjustment Capitalized interest Interest Expense, Debt Interest expense Investment Income, Interest Interest income Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis Long-term Debt, Fair Value Estimated Fair Value Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table] Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] Components of the restructuring liability Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward] Restructuring liability Restructuring Reserve Balance at the end of the period Balance at the beginning of the period Restructuring Charges Restructuring expense Payments for Restructuring Cash payments Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Other accrued liabilities Employee-related Liabilities, Current Compensation and other employee benefits Construction Payable, Current Construction in progress accruals Interest Payable, Current Accrued interest Other Liabilities Other accrued expense Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Table] Type of Arrangement and Non-arrangement Transactions [Axis] Arrangements And Nonarrangement Transactions [Member] Arrangements and Non-arrangement Transactions [Domain] Represents the EnhancedView Contract and Service Level Agreement. Enhanced View Sla [Member] Enhanced View SLA Represents the NextView agreement entered into by the entity. Next View Agreement [Member] Pre-FOC Payments Related To NextView Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items] Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Additions Deferred revenue recorded Cash collections Deferred Revenue, Revenue Recognized Revenue recognized from deferred revenue Deferred revenue recognized Deferred Revenue Balance at the end of the period Balance at the beginning of the period Deferred Revenue Arrangement, by Type [Table] Customer [Axis] Name Of Major Customer [Domain] Customer [Domain] Represents the U.S. Government as a major customer of the entity. U S Government [Member] U.S. Government Represents diversified commercial customers of the entity. Diversified Commercial [Member] Diversified commercial Represents information related to value added services. Value Added Services [Member] Value Added Services Represents information related to Direct Access Program. Direct Access Program [Member] DAP Represents information related to other agreement not else specified by the entity. Other Agreements [Member] Other Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items] Deferred Revenue Movement in Deferred Revenue [Roll Forward] Deferred revenue Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract] Deferred: Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net [Abstract] Long-term deferred tax assets (liabilities), net Deferred Tax Assets, Net Net deferred tax liability Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent Effective income tax rate (as a percent) Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Statutory rate (as a percent) Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustment Restatement [Table] Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] Income Taxes Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Award Type [Axis] Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Award Type And Plan Name [Domain] Equity Award [Domain] Restricted Stock Units R S U [Member] Restricted Stock Units An arrangement whereby an employee or other individual is entitled to receive in the future, subject to vesting and other restrictions, a number of shares in the entity at a specified price, as defined in the agreement. Employee And Nonemployee Stock Option [Member] Stock Options Represents the information pertaining to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units R S U [Member] Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units Title of Individual [Axis] Title Of Individual With Relationship To Entity [Domain] Relationship to Entity [Domain] Represents information pertaining to certain key employees. Key Employees [Member] Key employees Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Stock-Based Compensation Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Total recognized stock-based compensation Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount Stock-based compensation capitalized to assets under construction Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period Granted (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Granted (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, award vesting period Percentage of share-based compensation awards expected to vest if a minimum performance threshold is achieved. Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights Percentage if Threshold Achieved Percentage of shares that could vest if the performance threshold is achieved Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage Percentage of vesting shares Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options Total unrecognized compensation expense Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition Weighted-average period over which unrecognized compensation cost will be amortized on a straight-line basis Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price Exercisable (in dollars per share) Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] Class of Treasury Stock [Table] Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount Amount of shares authorized to be repurchased Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired Shares repurchased The cost of treasury stock purchased Cost of Treasury Stock Cost of shares repurchased Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share Average purchase price Schedule of Stock by Class [Table] Counterparty Name [Axis] Repurchase Agreement Counterparty Name [Domain] Counterparty Name [Domain] Represents information pertaining to Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Citigroup Global Markets Inc [Member] Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Related Party Transaction [Axis] Related Party Transaction [Domain] Related Party Transaction [Domain] Represents the Cerberus Agreement entered into by the entity on July 22, 20132. Cerberus Agreement [Member] Cerberus Agreement Related Party [Axis] Related Party [Domain] Related Party [Domain] Represents Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., Cerberus Partners II, L.P., Cerberus Series Four Holdings, LLC and Cerberus Satellite LLC. Cerberus [Member] Cerberus Parties Geo Eye Inc. Geo Eye Inc [Member] Geo Eye Inc Class of Stock [Line Items] Stockholders' Equity Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage Preferred dividend percentage Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share Liquidation preference per share The number of shares of the entity's stock transferred by the related party to the counterparty during the period. Shares Transferred by Related Party Preferred shares transferred Dividends, Preferred Stock Preferred Stock dividend declared The price per share of common stock of the conversion feature embedded in the preferred stock. Preferred Stock Conversion Price Per Share Preferred stock conversion price per share The aggregate number of shares of the entity's common stock that the holders of the class of preferred stock would receive if the stock was converted. Convertible Preferred Stock Number of Shares of Common Stock Shares of common stock into which the preferred stock could be converted Price of the entity's common stock which would be required to be exceeded for the redemption feature embedded in the preferred stock to become effective. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Threshold Stock Price Price of common stock to trigger redemption option Threshold number of specified consecutive trading days for which the entity's common stock price must exceed the threshold price for the redemption feature embedded in the preferred stock to become effective. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Threshold Consecutive Trading Days Consecutive trading days for threshold stock price to trigger the redemption option Noncontrolling Interest [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] A subsidiary acquired by the entity in the first quarter of 2014. Subsidiary Acquired2014 [Member] Subsidiary acquired in 2014 Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners Ownership percentage of third party investor Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table] Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Earnings (loss) per share: Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract] Earnings (loss) per share: Additional shares assumed to be purchased for share-based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method, for the calculation of incremental dilutive common shares. Additional shares assumed to be purchased for share-based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method, for the calculation of incremental dilutive common shares. Number of options and non-vested restricted stock awards assumed to be repurchased under the treasury stock method Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Securities excluded in the computation of diluted income per share (in shares) Schedule of Related Party Transactions, by Related Party [Table] Represents a joint venture in China. China Joint Venture [Member] Joint venture in China Related Party Transaction [Line Items] Related Party Transactions Equity Method Investments Investment for ownership interest in a joint venture Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage Ownership interest in a joint venture in China (as a percent) Revenue from Related Parties Purchase of products and services by related party Due from Joint Ventures Amounts owed to the Company by joint venture Schedule of Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Table] Geographical [Axis] Segment Geographical [Domain] Geographical [Domain] U [S] U.S. Represents the geographical area comprising all countries other than the entity's country of domicile. International [Member] International Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] Net revenue by geographic information WorldView-3 satellite. World View Three Satellite [Member] WorldView-3 Satellite Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Inputs Level2 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Information by vesting type pertaining to equity-based compensation. Vesting Criteria Axis Vesting type pertaining to equity-based compensation. Vesting Criteria [Domain] Vesting Criteria Domain Represents a share based compensation award with vesting based on both a service requirement and achievement of either a financial performance condition or a stock market performance condition. Vesting Based On Service And Performance [Member] Performance share units Represents a share based compensation award with vesting based on both a service requirement and achievement of a stock market performance condition. Vesting Based On Service And Stock Market Performance [Member] Performance share units - stock market condition Represents a share based compensation award with vesting based on both a service requirement and achievement of a financial performance condition. Vesting Based On Service And Financial Performance [Member] Performance share units - financial performance condition Share Repurchase Program [Axis] Share Repurchase Program [Domain] Share Repurchase Program [Domain] Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities Name [Domain] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Convertible Preferred Stock