Industry Segment Information (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 | |
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | $ 342,170,000 | $ 314,519,000 | $ 1,010,472,000 | $ 948,435,000 | |
| Operating income | 24,668,000 | 19,356,000 | 57,592,000 | 48,949,000 | |
| Identifiable assets | 1,197,184,000 | 1,197,184,000 | 1,062,536,000 | ||
| Capital expenditures | 10,344,000 | 25,091,000 | 43,118,000 | 58,682,000 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 7,988,000 | 6,334,000 | 24,464,000 | 17,727,000 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 27,700,000 | 16,400,000 | 82,800,000 | 46,900,000 | |
Launch Vehicles [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | 116,538,000 | 105,828,000 | 353,178,000 | 301,872,000 | |
| Operating income | 5,242,000 | 4,988,000 | 7,063,000 | 12,988,000 | |
| Identifiable assets | 209,216,000 | 209,216,000 | 212,360,000 | ||
| Capital expenditures | 2,516,000 | 15,472,000 | 23,212,000 | 37,897,000 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 3,497,000 | 1,865,000 | 10,769,000 | 5,479,000 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 26,100,000 | 14,400,000 | 77,800,000 | 41,400,000 | |
Satellites and Space Systems [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | 141,130,000 | 121,844,000 | 431,963,000 | 361,788,000 | |
| Operating income | 11,460,000 | 7,441,000 | 30,244,000 | 22,660,000 | |
| Identifiable assets | 293,394,000 | 293,394,000 | 268,804,000 | ||
| Capital expenditures | 3,531,000 | 4,210,000 | 7,376,000 | 7,537,000 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,651,000 | 1,670,000 | 5,102,000 | 4,226,000 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 1,500,000 | 1,700,000 | 3,900,000 | 4,500,000 | |
Advanced Space Programs [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | 112,214,000 | 103,204,000 | 308,112,000 | 331,673,000 | |
| Operating income | 7,966,000 | 7,835,000 | 20,285,000 | 15,829,000 | |
| Identifiable assets | 259,345,000 | 259,345,000 | 188,184,000 | ||
| Capital expenditures | 3,098,000 | 4,867,000 | 10,294,000 | 11,049,000 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,276,000 | 1,088,000 | 3,576,000 | 3,431,000 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 100,000 | 300,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,000,000 | |
Corporate and Other [Member] | |||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||||
| Revenues | (27,712,000) | (16,357,000) | (82,781,000) | (46,898,000) | |
| Operating income | (908,000) | (2,528,000) | |||
| Identifiable assets | 435,229,000 | 435,229,000 | 393,188,000 | ||
| Capital expenditures | 1,199,000 | 542,000 | 2,236,000 | 2,199,000 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | $ 1,564,000 | $ 1,711,000 | $ 5,017,000 | $ 4,591,000 | |