Revenue - Disaggregation of revenue by source (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenue
Revenues	$ 504	$ 557
Product
Revenue
Revenues	194	228
Service
Revenue
Revenues	310	329
Space Systems
Revenue
Orbital interest revenue	7	8
Operating Segments | Product
Revenue
Revenues	194	228
Operating Segments | Service
Revenue
Revenues	310	329
Operating Segments | Space Systems
Revenue
Revenues	274	293
Operating Segments | Space Systems | Product
Revenue
Revenues	194	228
Operating Segments | Space Systems | Service
Revenue
Revenues	45	51
Operating Segments | Imagery
Revenue
Revenues	200	211
Operating Segments | Imagery | Service
Revenue
Revenues	199	210
Operating Segments | Services
Revenue
Revenues	68	70
Operating Segments | Services | Service
Revenue
Revenues	66	68
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	(38)	(17)
Intersegment eliminations | Space Systems
Revenue
Revenues	35	14
Intersegment eliminations | Imagery
Revenue
Revenues	1	1
Intersegment eliminations | Services
Revenue
Revenues	$ 2	$ 2