Research and Development (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Research and Development [Abstract]
Research and development expenses	$ 23,432,000	$ 30,268,000	$ 40,567,000	$ 60,431,000
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Research and development costs incurred, inception to date	337,500,000		337,500,000
Less - amounts funded by NASA, inception to date	211,600,000		211,600,000
Net research and development expenses, inception to date	125,900,000		125,900,000
COTS Agreement - Cost-Sharing Arrangement Terms with NASA [Member]
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Aggregate cash milestone payments to partially fund project costs	288,000,000		288,000,000
Estimated total project costs	445,000,000		445,000,000
Deferred revenue and customer advances	49,900,000		49,900,000		25,200,000
Research and development costs incurred	36,500,000	38,900,000	78,400,000	67,200,000
Less - amounts funded by NASA	25,200,000	18,100,000	59,300,000	33,100,000
Net research and development expenses	11,300,000	20,800,000	19,100,000	34,100,000
Taurus II Development Program [Member]
Research and Development [Abstract]
Research and development expenses	$ 8,200,000	$ 7,800,000	$ 15,300,000	$ 23,100,000

The cumulative amount of customer funding recorded as an offset to costs incurred for a fixed-price, best-efforts research and development cost-sharing arrangement with the Federal Government.

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The cumulative net amount of research and development costs incurred for a fixed-price, best-efforts research and development cost-sharing arrangement with the Federal Government.

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The aggregate amount of cash milestone payments expected from NASA to partially offset research and development project costs, under the amended agreement for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

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The cumulative amount of costs incurred under a research and development arrangement accounted for as a contract to perform research and development for others.

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The activity in this account includes: (1) collections of cash or other assets related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP. (2) The current portion of prepayments received from customers for goods or services to be provided in the future.

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The current estimate of total project costs for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

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The amount of costs incurred under a research and development arrangement accounted for as a contract to perform research and development for others.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 730
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 14
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The net amount of research and development costs incurred for a fixed-price, best-efforts research and development cost-sharing arrangement with the Federal Government.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-FGC
-Chapter 3
-Paragraph 57
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The amount of customer funding recorded as an offset to costs incurred for a fixed-price, best-efforts research and development cost-sharing arrangement with the Federal Government.

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The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 985
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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