Segment information - Capital expenditures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	$ 156	$ 49	$ 40
Capital expenditures, intangible assets	62	23	16
Capital expenditures	218	72	56
Operating Segments | Space Systems
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	28	43	38
Capital expenditures, intangible assets	6	11	14
Capital expenditures	34	54	52
Operating Segments | Imagery
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	156	14
Capital expenditures, intangible assets	55	12
Capital expenditures	211	26
Operating Segments | Services
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	2	2	1
Capital expenditures, intangible assets	1		1
Capital expenditures	3	2	2
Intersegment eliminations
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	(30)	(10)	1
Capital expenditures, intangible assets			1
Capital expenditures	$ (30)	$ (10)	$ 2