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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (4,025)	$ (3,295)	$ (15,934)	$ (20,614)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic number of common shares outstanding	79,695	78,649	79,591	77,158
Diluted number of common shares outstanding	79,695	78,649	79,591	77,158
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ (0.05)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.27)
Diluted	$ (0.05)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.27)