ASO Business Segments [Axis] Spacetech Stock Options Astrotech StockOptionActivity [Axis] Stock Options 1st Detect Stock Options Astrogenetix Astrotech Equity Grants Plan Name [Axis] Astrotech Director Compensation 1st Detect Executive Compensation Astrogenetix Stock Plans Astrotech Stock Options Astrotech Restricted Stock 1st Detect Stock Options And Warrants 1st Detect Restricted Stock Astrogenetix Warrants Astrogenetix Restricted Stock ValuationInputsLevelTwoMember Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] 1st Detect Controlling Interest ControllingInterest [Axis] Astrogenetix Controlling Interest Document And Entity Information Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable, net Prepaid expenses and other current assets Total current assets Property & equipment, net Other assets, net Total assets Current liabilites Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Deferred revenue Term note payable Total current liabilities Deferred revenue Term note payable, net of current portion Total liabilities Stockholders' equity Preferred stock Common stock Treasury stock Additional paid-in capital Accumulated deficit Noncontrolling interest Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Preferred stock, par value in dollars Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common stock, par value in dollars Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Treasurty stock, shares at cost Income Statement [Abstract] Revenue Cost of revenue Gross profit Operating expenses Selling, general and administrative Research and development Total operating expenses Loss from operations Interest and other expense, net Loss before income taxes Income tax expense Net loss Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net loss attributable to Astrotech Corporation Net loss per share attributable to Astrotech Corporation, basic Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic Net loss per share attributable to Astrotech Corporation, diluted Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Net loss Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Stock-based compensation Depreciation and amortization Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable Deferred revenue Accounts payable Other assets and liabilities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchases of property, equipment and leasehold improvements Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities State of Texas Funding Term loan payments Proceeds from issuance of common stock Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities Net change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] Description of the Company and Operating Environment Basis of Presentation Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Noncontrolling Interest Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Net Loss per Share Revenue Recognition [Abstract] Revenue Recognition Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Measurement Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract] Business and Credit Risk Concentration Segment Reporting [Abstract] Segment Information State Of Texas Funding State of Texas Funding Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Equity and Other Long Term Incentive Plans Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes Equity [Abstract] Purchase of Common Stock Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Events Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis of Presentation Net Loss per Share Revenue Recognition Fair Value Measurement Noncontrolling Interest Components of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Fair Value of Financial Instruments Segment Information Stock Option Activity Summary Schedule of Restricted Stock Activity Successful launch processing support projects Launch support for shuttle missions Beginning balance at June 30, 2012 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Capital contribution Stock-based compensation Ending balance at September 30, 2012 Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] ControllingInterestAxis [Axis] Company share of income and losses of subsidiaries Numerator: Net loss attributable to Astrotech, basic Denominator: Denominator for basic net loss per share attributable to Astrotech Corporation weighted average common stock outstanding Dilutive common stock equivalents - common stock options and share-based awards Denominator for diluted net loss per share attributable to Astrotech Corporation weighted average common stock outstanding and dilutive common stock equivalents Basic net loss per share attributable to Astrotech Corporation Diluted net loss per share attributable to Astrotech Corporation Options to purchase shares Exercise price lower range Exercise price upper range Credit facilities financing arrangements Financing facility term loan note termination date Revolving credit facility expiration date Credit facilities interest rates Financing facility term loan balance Note payable carrying value Note payable fair value Government contracts percent revenue Government contracts percent of receivables Income (loss) before income taxes Fixed assets, net Total assets State Of Texas Funding Details Narrative Proceeds from Texas Emerging Technology Fund StockOptionActivityAxis [Axis] Options outstanding at beginning of period Options granted Options exercised Options cancelled or expired Options outstanding at end of period Weighted average exercise price outstanding at beginning of period Weighted average exercise price granted Weighted average exercise price exercised Weighted average exercise price cancelled or expired Weighted average exercise price outstanding at end of period Restricted shares non-vested at beginning of period Restricted shares issued Restricted shares vested Restricted shares cancelled or expired Restricted shares non-vested at end of period Weighted average grant-date fair value non-vested at beginning of period Weighted average grant-date fair value issued Weighted average grant-date fair value vested Weighted average grant-date fair value cancelled or expired Weighted average grant-date fair value non-vested at end of period Share based compensation arrangement award description Common stock reserved for future grants - 2008 Plan Common stock reserved for future grants - 2011 plan Compensation expense recognized Unrecognized compensation cost related to stock option and restricted awards Unrecognized compensation cost over a weighted-average period IRS years under tax examination Interest or penalty for uncertain tax position liability Common stock repurchased - shares Common stock repurchased - value Common stock repurchased - average cost per share Retirement of senior convertible notes Remaining authorized repurchase amount Expiration of credit facility Assets, Current Liabilities, Current Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Liabilities Treasury Stock, Value Liabilities and Equity Gross Profit Operating Expenses Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Repayments of Other Short-term Debt Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities StateOfTexasFundingTextBlock Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block] Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] StockbasedCompensation Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value State of Texas funding. Represents the number of successful launch processing support services provided to government and commercial customers. Number of shuttle missions supported by Astrotech. Stock-based compensation attribuatble to non-controlling interest. Revenue recognition disclosure Represents the overall receivables due from government contracts. ASO member Spacetech member State of Texas funding. Represents the proceeds from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Stock option activity axis Stock option activity - Astrotech Stock option activity - 1st Detect Stock option activity - Astrogenetix Expiration of credit facility. Astrotech Equity Grants Astrotech Director Compensation 1st Detect Executive Compensation Astrogenetix Stock Plans Astrotech Stock Options Astrotech Restricted Stock 1st Detect Stock Options and Warrants 1st Detect Restricted Stock Astrogenetix Warrants Astrotech Restricted Stock Common stock reserved for futures issuance under the 2008 Plan. Valuation inputs Level 2 Controlling Interest 1st Detect Interest Astrogenetix Interest