Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	15. Commitments and Contingencies *Next-generation satellite procurement* On May 5, 2008, the Company entered into a procurement agreement with SNC pursuant to which SNC is constructing eighteen LEO satellites in three sets of satellites (“shipsets”) for the Company’s next-generation satellites (the “Initial Satellites”). Under the agreement, SNC is also providing launch support services, a test satellite (excluding the mechanical structure), a satellite software simulator and the associated ground support equipment. The total contract price for the Initial Satellites under the procurement agreement is $117,000, subject to reduction upon failure to achieve certain in-orbit operational milestones with respect to the Initial Satellites or if the pre-ship reviews of each shipset are delayed more than 60-120 days after the specified time periods described below. The Company has agreed to pay SNC up to $1,500 in incentive payments for the successful operation of the Initial Satellites five years following the successful completion of in-orbit testing for the third shipset of eight satellites. On August 31, 2010, the Company entered into two additional task order agreements with SNC in connection with the procurement agreement discussed above. Under the terms of the launch vehicle changes task order agreement, SNC will perform the activities to launch eighteen of the Company’s next-generation satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 1e or Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The total price for the launch activities is cost reimbursable up to $4,110 and the contract is cancelable by the Company, less a credit of $1,528. Under the terms of the engineering change requests and enhancements task order agreement, SNC will design and make changes to each of the next-generation satellites in order to accommodate an additional payload-to-bus interface. The total price for the engineering changes requests is cost reimbursable up to $317. Both task order agreements are payable monthly as the services are performed, provided that with respect to the launch vehicle changes task order agreement, the credit in the amount of $1,528 will first be deducted against amounts accrued thereunder until the entire balance is expended. On August 23, 2011, the Company and SNC entered into a definitive First Amendment to the procurement agreement (the “First Amendment”). The First Amendment amends certain terms of the procurement agreement and supplements or amends five separate task order agreements, between May 20, 2010 and December 15, 2010 (“Task Orders #1-5”). Between July 3, 2012 and April 18, 2014, the Company and SNC entered into five additional task order agreements for additional cost up to $2,700. The First Amendment modifies the milestone payment schedule under the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008 but does not change the total contract price (excluding optional satellites and costs under the Original Task Orders) of $117,000. Payments under the First Amendment extended into the second quarter of 2014, subject to SNC’s successful completion of each payment milestone. The First Amendment also settles the liquidated delay damages triggered under the procurement agreement and provides an ongoing mechanism for the Company to obtain pricing proposals to order up to thirty optional satellites substantially identical to the Initial Satellites for which firm fixed pricing previously had expired under the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008. The Company anticipates $3,900 in total liquidated delay damages will be available to offset milestone and task order payments. On March 20, 2014, the Company and SNC entered into a definitive Second Amendment to the procurement agreement (the “Second Amendment”). The Second Amendment amends certain terms of the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008, as amended by the First Amendment and supplemented by nine separate Task Orders entered into prior to that date (collectively, “Task Orders #1-9”). The Second Amendment modifies the number of satellites in each shipset to reflect the actual number of satellites to be launched in each of the two missions. The Second Amendment also modifies the payment milestone schedule under the First Amendment but does not change the total contract price (excluding optional satellites and costs under Task Orders #1-9) of $117,000. As of June 30, 2015, the Company has made milestone payments of $7,928 to SNC under the procurement agreement. The Company anticipates making payments of approximately $29,512 under the agreement during 2015. On September 21, 2012, SpaceX and the Company entered into a Secondary Payload Launch Services Agreement totaling $4,000 of the original $46,600 to launch the next-generation prototype which occurred on October 7, 2012. On December 21, 2012, the Company and SpaceX entered into a Launch Services Agreement (the “Falcon 9 Agreement”) pursuant to which SpaceX will provide launch services (the “Launch Services”) for the carriage into LEO of up to 17 ORBCOMM next-generation satellites. Under the Falcon 9 Agreement, SpaceX will also provide to the Company satellite-to-launch vehicle integration and launch support services, as well as certain related optional services. The total price under the Falcon 9 Agreement (excluding any optional services) is $42,600 subject to certain adjustments, which reflects pricing agreed under the 2009 agreement for Launch Services. The amounts due under the Falcon 9 Agreement are payable by the Company in installments from the date of execution of the Falcon 9 Agreement through the performance of each Launch Service. The Falcon 9 Agreement anticipated that the Launch Services for 17 Satellites would be performed by the second quarter of 2014, subject to certain rights of ORBCOMM and SpaceX to reschedule the Launch Services as needed. Either the Company or SpaceX may postpone and reschedule either Launch Service based on satellite and launch vehicle readiness, among other factors, subject to the payment of certain fees by the party requesting or causing the delay following 6 months of delay with respect to either of the two Launch Services. Both the Company and SpaceX have customary termination rights under the Falcon 9 Agreement, including for material breaches and aggregate delays beyond 365 days by the other party. The Company has the right to terminate either of the Launch Services subject to the payment of a termination fee in an amount that would be based on the date ORBCOMM exercises its termination right. On July 14, 2014, the Company launched six of its OG2 satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The OG2 satellites were separated from the Falcon 9 vehicle into orbit. On September 15, 2014, following an in-orbit testing period, the Company initiated commercial service for the six OG2 satellites. The satellites provide both M2M messaging and AIS service for its global customers. On April 13, 2015, the Company and SpaceX entered into Amendment #1 to the Falcon 9 Agreement (the “First LSA Amendment”). The First LSA Amendment amends certain terms of the Falcon 9 Agreement dated December 21, 2012 applicable to the second launch period including (i) the milestone payment schedule related to the second launch, but does not change the total contract price of $42,600 and (ii) establishing a launch window for the second launch, as well as modifying other terms and conditions relating to the second launch as originally set forth in the Falcon 9 Agreement. As of June 30, 2015, the Company made milestone payments of $5,325 under the Falcon 9 Agreement. The Company anticipates making payments of approximately $1,065 under the agreement during 2015. In April 2014, the Company obtained launch and one year in-orbit insurance for the OG2 satellite program. For the first launch of six satellites, the Company obtained (i) a maximum total of $66,000 of launch plus one year in-orbit insurance coverage; and (ii) $22,000 of launch vehicle flight only insurance coverage (“Launch One”). The total premium cost for Launch One was $9,953. For the second launch of eleven satellites, the Company obtained (i) a maximum total of $120,000 of launch plus one year in-orbit insurance coverage; and (ii) $22,000 of launch vehicle flight only insurance coverage (“Launch Two”). The total premium cost for Launch Two is $16,454. In April 2014, the Company paid the total premium for Launch One and 5% of the total premium for Launch Two, with the balance of the premium cost for Launch Two becoming due 30 days prior to the scheduled launch of the second mission. The majority of the premium payments are recorded as satellite network and other equipment, net in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2015. The Launch One coverage took effect on July 14, 2014, following the launch and insertion of the first six satellites into orbit. The policy contains a three satellite deductible across both missions under the launch plus one-year insurance coverage whereby claims are payable in excess of the first three satellites in the aggregate for both Launch One and Launch Two combined that are total losses or constructive total losses. The launch vehicle only coverage requires the loss of all satellites on the applicable mission as a result of the launch vehicle flight in order to collect under that portion of the insurance policy. The policy is also subject to specified exclusions and material change limitations customary in the industry. These exclusions include losses resulting from war, anti-satellite devices, insurrection, terrorist acts, government confiscation, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic interference, loss of revenue and third party liability. In June 2015 the Company lost communication with one of the in-orbit OG2 satellites. The Company is conducting an on-going FRB investigation led by the satellite prime contractor SNC with extensive support from the payload subcontractor Boeing and the Company’s engineers. On August 4, 2015, due to the extended period of no communication with the satellite, the Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors concluded, based on management’s recommendation, that a non-cash impairment charge of $12,748 should be recorded as a recognized subsequent event in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 855 “Subsequent Events” to write-off the net book value of the satellite for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 and decreased satellite network and other equipment by $13,788 and associated accumulated depreciation by $1,040 to remove the asset as of June 30, 2015. The impairment charge is reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. No amount of the impairment charge represents a cash expenditure and the Company does not expect that this impairment will result in any future cash expenditure. We have notified our in-orbit insurers that the loss of the OG2 satellite may result in a constructive total loss of that satellite. Under the insurance terms mentioned above, this satellite will be the first of the three satellite deductible in the aggregate for both Launch One and Launch Two, under which no claim is payable. On July 14, 2015, the Company obtained an additional one year in-orbit insurance for the five OG2 satellites currently in-orbit for a maximum total of $40,000. The additional in-orbit coverage took effect on July 15, 2015, following the end of the coverage period for the initial launch and one year in-orbit insurance. The policy contains a one satellite deductible across the five in-orbit OG2 satellites whereby claims are payable in excess of the first satellite that is a total loss or constructive total loss. The policy is also subject to a specific exclusion for losses that have resulted from an anomaly with the same signatures as the initial OG2 satellite loss. There are other specified exclusions and material change limitations customary in the industry which include losses resulting from war, anti-satellite devices, insurrection, terrorist acts, government confiscation, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic interference, loss of revenue and third party liability. *Airtime credits* In 2001, in connection with the organization of ORBCOMM Europe and the reorganization of the ORBCOMM business in Europe, the Company agreed to grant certain country representatives in Europe approximately $3,736 in airtime credits. The Company has not recorded the airtime credits as a liability for the following reasons: (i) the Company has no obligation to pay the unused airtime credits if they are not utilized; and (ii) the airtime credits are earned by the country representatives only when the Company generates revenue from the country representatives. The airtime credits have no expiration date. Accordingly, the Company is recording airtime credits as services are rendered and these airtime credits are recorded net of revenues from the country representatives. For the quarters ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 airtime credits used totaled approximately $7 and $7, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 airtime credits used totaled approximately $15 and $15, respectively. As of June 30, 2015 and 2014 unused credits granted by the Company were approximately $2,053 and $2,082, respectively.

15. Commitments and Contingencies

Next-generation satellite procurement

On May 5, 2008, the Company entered into a procurement agreement with SNC pursuant to which SNC is constructing eighteen LEO satellites in three sets of satellites (“shipsets”) for the Company’s next-generation satellites (the “Initial Satellites”). Under the agreement, SNC is also providing launch support services, a test satellite (excluding the mechanical structure), a satellite software simulator and the associated ground support equipment.

The total contract price for the Initial Satellites under the procurement agreement is $117,000, subject to reduction upon failure to achieve certain in-orbit operational milestones with respect to the Initial Satellites or if the pre-ship reviews of each shipset are delayed more than 60-120 days after the specified time periods described below. The Company has agreed to pay SNC up to $1,500 in incentive payments for the successful operation of the Initial Satellites five years following the successful completion of in-orbit testing for the third shipset of eight satellites.

On August 31, 2010, the Company entered into two additional task order agreements with SNC in connection with the procurement agreement discussed above. Under the terms of the launch vehicle changes task order agreement, SNC will perform the activities to launch eighteen of the Company’s next-generation satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 1e or Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The total price for the launch activities is cost reimbursable up to $4,110 and the contract is cancelable by the Company, less a credit of $1,528. Under the terms of the engineering change requests and enhancements task order agreement, SNC will design and make changes to each of the next-generation satellites in order to accommodate an additional payload-to-bus interface. The total price for the engineering changes requests is cost reimbursable up to $317. Both task order agreements are payable monthly as the services are performed, provided that with respect to the launch vehicle changes task order agreement, the credit in the amount of $1,528 will first be deducted against amounts accrued thereunder until the entire balance is expended.

On August 23, 2011, the Company and SNC entered into a definitive First Amendment to the procurement agreement (the “First Amendment”). The First Amendment amends certain terms of the procurement agreement and supplements or amends five separate task order agreements, between May 20, 2010 and December 15, 2010 (“Task Orders #1-5”). Between July 3, 2012 and April 18, 2014, the Company and SNC entered into five additional task order agreements for additional cost up to $2,700.

The First Amendment modifies the milestone payment schedule under the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008 but does not change the total contract price (excluding optional satellites and costs under the Original Task Orders) of $117,000. Payments under the First Amendment extended into the second quarter of 2014, subject to SNC’s successful completion of each payment milestone. The First Amendment also settles the liquidated delay damages triggered under the procurement agreement and provides an ongoing mechanism for the Company to obtain pricing proposals to order up to thirty optional satellites substantially identical to the Initial Satellites for which firm fixed pricing previously had expired under the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008. The Company anticipates $3,900 in total liquidated delay damages will be available to offset milestone and task order payments.

On March 20, 2014, the Company and SNC entered into a definitive Second Amendment to the procurement agreement (the “Second Amendment”). The Second Amendment amends certain terms of the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008, as amended by the First Amendment and supplemented by nine separate Task Orders entered into prior to that date (collectively, “Task Orders #1-9”). The Second Amendment modifies the number of satellites in each shipset to reflect the actual number of satellites to be launched in each of the two missions. The Second Amendment also modifies the payment milestone schedule under the First Amendment but does not change the total contract price (excluding optional satellites and costs under Task Orders #1-9) of $117,000.

As of June 30, 2015, the Company has made milestone payments of $7,928 to SNC under the procurement agreement. The Company anticipates making payments of approximately $29,512 under the agreement during 2015.

On September 21, 2012, SpaceX and the Company entered into a Secondary Payload Launch Services Agreement totaling $4,000 of the original $46,600 to launch the next-generation prototype which occurred on October 7, 2012.

On December 21, 2012, the Company and SpaceX entered into a Launch Services Agreement (the “Falcon 9 Agreement”) pursuant to which SpaceX will provide launch services (the “Launch Services”) for the carriage into LEO of up to 17 ORBCOMM next-generation satellites. Under the Falcon 9 Agreement, SpaceX will also provide to the Company satellite-to-launch vehicle integration and launch support services, as well as certain related optional services. The total price under the Falcon 9 Agreement (excluding any optional services) is $42,600 subject to certain adjustments, which reflects pricing agreed under the 2009 agreement for Launch Services. The amounts due under the Falcon 9 Agreement are payable by the Company in installments from the date of execution of the Falcon 9 Agreement through the performance of each Launch Service.

The Falcon 9 Agreement anticipated that the Launch Services for 17 Satellites would be performed by the second quarter of 2014, subject to certain rights of ORBCOMM and SpaceX to reschedule the Launch Services as needed. Either the Company or SpaceX may postpone and reschedule either Launch Service based on satellite and launch vehicle readiness, among other factors, subject to the payment of certain fees by the party requesting or causing the delay following 6 months of delay with respect to either of the two Launch Services.

Both the Company and SpaceX have customary termination rights under the Falcon 9 Agreement, including for material breaches and aggregate delays beyond 365 days by the other party. The Company has the right to terminate either of the Launch Services subject to the payment of a termination fee in an amount that would be based on the date ORBCOMM exercises its termination right.

On July 14, 2014, the Company launched six of its OG2 satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The OG2 satellites were separated from the Falcon 9 vehicle into orbit. On September 15, 2014, following an in-orbit testing period, the Company initiated commercial service for the six OG2 satellites. The satellites provide both M2M messaging and AIS service for its global customers.

On April 13, 2015, the Company and SpaceX entered into Amendment #1 to the Falcon 9 Agreement (the “First LSA Amendment”). The First LSA Amendment amends certain terms of the Falcon 9 Agreement dated December 21, 2012 applicable to the second launch period including (i) the milestone payment schedule related to the second launch, but does not change the total contract price of $42,600 and (ii) establishing a launch window for the second launch, as well as modifying other terms and conditions relating to the second launch as originally set forth in the Falcon 9 Agreement.

As of June 30, 2015, the Company made milestone payments of $5,325 under the Falcon 9 Agreement. The Company anticipates making payments of approximately $1,065 under the agreement during 2015.

In April 2014, the Company obtained launch and one year in-orbit insurance for the OG2 satellite program. For the first launch of six satellites, the Company obtained (i) a maximum total of $66,000 of launch plus one year in-orbit insurance coverage; and (ii) $22,000 of launch vehicle flight only insurance coverage (“Launch One”). The total premium cost for Launch One was $9,953. For the second launch of eleven satellites, the Company obtained (i) a maximum total of $120,000 of launch plus one year in-orbit insurance coverage; and (ii) $22,000 of launch vehicle flight only insurance coverage (“Launch Two”). The total premium cost for Launch Two is $16,454. In April 2014, the Company paid the total premium for Launch One and 5% of the total premium for Launch Two, with the balance of the premium cost for Launch Two becoming due 30 days prior to the scheduled launch of the second mission. The majority of the premium payments are recorded as satellite network and other equipment, net in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2015. The Launch One coverage took effect on July 14, 2014, following the launch and insertion of the first six satellites into orbit.

The policy contains a three satellite deductible across both missions under the launch plus one-year insurance coverage whereby claims are payable in excess of the first three satellites in the aggregate for both Launch One and Launch Two combined that are total losses or constructive total losses. The launch vehicle only coverage requires the loss of all satellites on the applicable mission as a result of the launch vehicle flight in order to collect under that portion of the insurance policy. The policy is also subject to specified exclusions and material change limitations customary in the industry. These exclusions include losses resulting from war, anti-satellite devices, insurrection, terrorist acts, government confiscation, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic interference, loss of revenue and third party liability.

In June 2015 the Company lost communication with one of the in-orbit OG2 satellites. The Company is conducting an on-going FRB investigation led by the satellite prime contractor SNC with extensive support from the payload subcontractor Boeing and the Company’s engineers. On August 4, 2015, due to the extended period of no communication with the satellite, the Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors concluded, based on management’s recommendation, that a non-cash impairment charge of $12,748 should be recorded as a recognized subsequent event in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 855 “Subsequent Events” to write-off the net book value of the satellite for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 and decreased satellite network and other equipment by $13,788 and associated accumulated depreciation by $1,040 to remove the asset as of June 30, 2015. The impairment charge is reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. No amount of the impairment charge represents a cash expenditure and the Company does not expect that this impairment will result in any future cash expenditure.

We have notified our in-orbit insurers that the loss of the OG2 satellite may result in a constructive total loss of that satellite. Under the insurance terms mentioned above, this satellite will be the first of the three satellite deductible in the aggregate for both Launch One and Launch Two, under which no claim is payable.

On July 14, 2015, the Company obtained an additional one year in-orbit insurance for the five OG2 satellites currently in-orbit for a maximum total of $40,000. The additional in-orbit coverage took effect on July 15, 2015, following the end of the coverage period for the initial launch and one year in-orbit insurance. The policy contains a one satellite deductible across the five in-orbit OG2 satellites whereby claims are payable in excess of the first satellite that is a total loss or constructive total loss. The policy is also subject to a specific exclusion for losses that have resulted from an anomaly with the same signatures as the initial OG2 satellite loss. There are other specified exclusions and material change limitations customary in the industry which include losses resulting from war, anti-satellite devices, insurrection, terrorist acts, government confiscation, radioactive contamination, electromagnetic interference, loss of revenue and third party liability.

Airtime credits

In 2001, in connection with the organization of ORBCOMM Europe and the reorganization of the ORBCOMM business in Europe, the Company agreed to grant certain country representatives in Europe approximately $3,736 in airtime credits. The Company has not recorded the airtime credits as a liability for the following reasons: (i) the Company has no obligation to pay the unused airtime credits if they are not utilized; and (ii) the airtime credits are earned by the country representatives only when the Company generates revenue from the country representatives. The airtime credits have no expiration date. Accordingly, the Company is recording airtime credits as services are rendered and these airtime credits are recorded net of revenues from the country representatives. For the quarters ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 airtime credits used totaled approximately $7 and $7, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 airtime credits used totaled approximately $15 and $15, respectively. As of June 30, 2015 and 2014 unused credits granted by the Company were approximately $2,053 and $2,082, respectively.