Revenue - Disaggregation of revenue by source (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue
Revenues	$ 496	$ 509	$ 579	$ 557	$ 545	$ 337	$ 375	$ 374	$ 2,141	$ 1,631	$ 1,558
Product
Revenue
Revenues									851	1,119	1,286
Service
Revenue
Revenues									1,290	512	272
Space Systems
Revenue
Orbital interest revenue									32	35	31
Operating Segments | Product
Revenue
Revenues									851	1,119	1,285
Operating Segments | Service
Revenue
Revenues									1,290	512	273
Operating Segments | Space Systems
Revenue
Revenues									1,129	1,270	1,421
Operating Segments | Space Systems | Product
Revenue
Revenues									851	1,119	1,285
Operating Segments | Space Systems | Service
Revenue
Revenues									191	141	132
Operating Segments | Imagery
Revenue
Revenues									845	230	42
Operating Segments | Imagery | Service
Revenue
Revenues									841	228	41
Operating Segments | Services
Revenue
Revenues									266	144	100
Operating Segments | Services | Service
Revenue
Revenues									258	143	100
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues									(99)	(13)	(5)
Intersegment eliminations | Space Systems
Revenue
Revenues									87	10	4
Intersegment eliminations | Imagery
Revenue
Revenues									4	2	$ 1
Intersegment eliminations | Services
Revenue
Revenues									$ 8	$ 1