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, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (6,419)	$ (7,233)	$ (11,909)	$ (17,319)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic number of common shares outstanding	79,688	78,079	79,538	76,404
Diluted number of common shares outstanding	79,688	78,079	79,538	76,404
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ (0.08)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.23)
Diluted	$ (0.08)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.23)