Revenue - Disaggregation of revenue by source (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue
Revenues	$ 410	$ 413	$ 412	$ 431	$ 418	$ 433	$ 487	$ 466	$ 1,666	$ 1,804	$ 1,257
Product
Revenue
Revenues									560	697	877
Service
Revenue
Revenues									1,106	1,107	380
Space Systems
Revenue
Orbital interest revenue									31	32	35
Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues									(125)	(78)	(6)
Operating Segments | Earth intelligence
Revenue
Revenues									1,085	1,059	331
Operating Segments | Earth intelligence | Service
Revenue
Revenues									1,085	1,058	331
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues									706	823	932
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure | Product
Revenue
Revenues									560	697	877
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure | Service
Revenue
Revenues									21	49	49
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues									(125)	(78)	(6)
Intersegment eliminations | Earth intelligence
Revenue
Revenues										1
Intersegment eliminations | Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues									$ 125	$ 77	$ 6