SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 10,878	$ (10,850)
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Second-generation satellites, ground and related launch costs	(43,305)	(71,212)
Property and equipment additions	(382)	(2,385)
Investment in businesses	(450)	(500)
Restricted cash	(3,650)	(10,436)
Net cash used in investing activities	(47,787)	(84,533)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and stock options	100	526
Borrowings from Facility Agreement	5,008	18,659
Proceeds from the issuance of 5.0% convertible notes		38,000
Proceeds from contingent equity agreement	23,000
Proceeds from the contribution to the debt service reserve account		12,500
Payment of deferred financing costs	(250)	(925)
Net cash from financing activities	27,858	68,760
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	319	(314)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(8,732)	(26,937)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	9,951	33,017
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,219	6,080
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	12,655	(14,793)
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Second-generation satellites, ground and related launch costs	(43,305)	(71,212)
Property and equipment additions		(501)
Investment in businesses	(450)	(500)
Restricted cash	(3,650)	(10,436)
Net cash used in investing activities	(47,405)	(82,649)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and stock options	100	526
Borrowings from Facility Agreement	5,008	18,659
Proceeds from the issuance of 5.0% convertible notes		38,000
Proceeds from contingent equity agreement	23,000
Proceeds from the contribution to the debt service reserve account		12,500
Payment of deferred financing costs	(250)	(925)
Net cash from financing activities	27,858	68,760
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(6,892)	(28,682)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	7,343	32,288
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	451	3,606
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(165)	3,052
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Second-generation satellites, ground and related launch costs
Property and equipment additions	(197)	(1,692)
Investment in businesses
Restricted cash
Net cash used in investing activities	(197)	(1,692)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and stock options
Borrowings from Facility Agreement
Proceeds from the issuance of 5.0% convertible notes
Proceeds from contingent equity agreement
Proceeds from the contribution to the debt service reserve account
Payment of deferred financing costs
Net cash from financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(362)	1,360
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	587	(766)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	225	594
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(1,612)	891
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Second-generation satellites, ground and related launch costs
Property and equipment additions	(185)	(192)
Investment in businesses
Restricted cash
Net cash used in investing activities	(185)	(192)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and stock options
Borrowings from Facility Agreement
Proceeds from the issuance of 5.0% convertible notes
Proceeds from contingent equity agreement
Proceeds from the contribution to the debt service reserve account
Payment of deferred financing costs
Net cash from financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	319	(314)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1,478)	385
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,021	1,495
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	543	1,880
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Second-generation satellites, ground and related launch costs
Property and equipment additions
Investment in businesses
Restricted cash
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and stock options
Borrowings from Facility Agreement
Proceeds from the issuance of 5.0% convertible notes
Proceeds from contingent equity agreement
Proceeds from the contribution to the debt service reserve account
Payment of deferred financing costs
Net cash from financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period