v2.4.0.6

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 3)			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 22, 2012 E-Contract Technologies, LLC item	Feb. 23, 2011 Vigilos, LLC item	Mar. 31, 2011 Breach of fiduciary duties	Dec. 31, 2011 Breach of fiduciary duties	Dec. 31, 2012 Breach of fiduciary duties
Commitment and Contingencies
Number of subsidiaries against which lawsuit was filed	2	2
Stock option grants attempted (in shares)			1,500,000
Stock option grants (in shares)				800,000
Stock options outstanding (in shares)					800,000

X

- Definition

Number of subsidiaries against which lawsuit filed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sats_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) which the entity attempted to grant during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sats_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance under stock option agreements awarded under the plan that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including vested options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(1)(b)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(1)(a)

-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.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant