Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					1 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2012	Mar. 31, 2014	May 05, 2008	Mar. 31, 2014 Falcon 9 Agreement [Member] Satellite	Dec. 31, 2012 Falcon 9 Agreement [Member]	Sep. 21, 2012 Secondary Payload Launch Services Agreement [Member]	Feb. 28, 2014 Development and Manufacturing Arrangement [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Development and Manufacturing Arrangement [Member]	Jun. 24, 2013 Procurement Agreement Task Order Number Seven [Member]	Sep. 10, 2013 Procurement Agreement Task Order Number Eight [Member]	Jan. 14, 2014 Procurement Agreement Task Order Number Nine [Member]	Apr. 18, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] Procurement Agreement Task Order Number Ten [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] Launch Plus One Year In Orbit Insurance Coverage for First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] Launch Vehicle Flight Only Insurance Coverage for First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] Launch Plus One Year In Orbit Insurance Coverage for Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] Launch Vehicle Flight Only Insurance Coverage for Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]	May 05, 2008 Procurement Agreement [Member] SNC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Procurement Agreement [Member] SNC [Member] Satellite	Aug. 31, 2010 Procurement Agreement [Member] SNC [Member] Agreement	Aug. 31, 2008 Procurement Agreement [Member] SNC [Member] Satellite	Aug. 28, 2009 Procurement Agreement [Member] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Procurement Agreement [Member] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Procurement Agreement [Member] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Procurement Agreement [Member] Launch Activities [Member] SNC [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Procurement Agreement [Member] Engineering Changes [Member] SNC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Procurement Agreement [Member] Airtime [Member] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Procurement Agreement [Member] Airtime [Member] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Procurement Agreement [Member] Airtime [Member] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) [Member] Europe [Member]	May 05, 2008 Minimum [Member] Procurement Agreement [Member] SNC [Member]	May 05, 2008 Maximum [Member] Procurement Agreement [Member] SNC [Member] Satellite
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Liquidated delay damages					$ 42,600	$ 4,000	$ 4,817												$ 117,000				$ 46,600									$ 3,900
Delayed shipset																															60 days	120 days
Incentive payments																			1,500
Number of satellites				17																8												30
Low-earth-orbit satellites																						18
Cost reimbursable																										4,110	317
Amount of credit available																					1,528
Additional task order agreements																					2
Fixed fee included in price for the work task order	521
Procurement agreement fixed price contract amount									189	1,650	127
Procurement agreement cost plus fixed price contract amount												175
Procurement agreement contract price excluding optional satellites			117,000
Milestone payments		58,500		35,145
Milestone payments for next twelve months		47,970		7,455
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program													66,000	22,000		120,000	22,000
Premium cost for launch of satellite															9,953			16,454
Percentage of premium as to aggregate premium																		5.00%
Credits provided																												8	8	3,736
Unused credits granted																								$ 2,089	$ 2,097
Period for developing and manufacturing products								5 years