Net Income (Loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders - Summary of Basic and Diluted Calculations of EPS (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (4,169)	$ (12,217)	$ (6,265)	$ (15,099)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic number of common shares outstanding	70,900	70,427	70,800	70,333
Diluted number of common shares outstanding	70,900	70,427	70,800	70,333
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ (0.06)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.21)
Diluted	$ (0.06)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.21)