Long term debt and interest expense - Syndicated credit facility (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 05, 2017 USD ($)
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			$ (22)		$ (23)
Amortization of capitalized financing fees			11	$ 9	$ 3
At the end of each fiscal quarter
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Interest coverage ratio	2.0
Syndicated Credit Facility | At the end of the current fiscal year
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Maximum debt to EBITDA	7.25
Syndicated Credit Facility | At the end of the next fiscal quarter
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Maximum debt to EBITDA	7.50
Syndicated Credit Facility | At the end of each fiscal quarter for the next 18 months
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Maximum debt to EBITDA	7.75
Syndicated Credit Facility | At the end of each fiscal quarter for the next twelve months
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Maximum debt to EBITDA	7.50
Syndicated Credit Facility | At the end of each fiscal quarter for the next six months
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Maximum debt to EBITDA	6.50
Syndicated Credit Facility | For each fiscal quarter thereafter
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Maximum debt to EBITDA	5.75
Syndicated Credit Facility | Upon a disposition of a business line for greater than $500 million
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Reduction in each maximum level of Debt to EBITDA	0.25
Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Extended term of debt	2 years
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 500					$ 1,250
Letter of credit outstanding			$ 18	$ 18
Revolving Credit Facility | Upon a disposition of a business line for greater than $500 million
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Minimum amount of disposition of business line to trigger a reduction in each maximum level of consolidated debt to EBITDA	$ 500
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Libor | Minimum
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Spread on variable rate			1.20%
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Libor | Maximum
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Spread on variable rate			4.25%
Revolving Credit Facility | Adjusted Base Rate | Minimum
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Spread on variable rate			0.20%
Revolving Credit Facility | Adjusted Base Rate | Maximum
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Spread on variable rate			3.25%
Letter of credit
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 200
Term Loan A
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			$ 22
Term Loan A | Adjusted Base Rate
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Spread on variable rate			1.75%
Term Loan B
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Installment payments as a percentage of original principal amount			1.00%
Term Loan B | U.S. Libor
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Spread on variable rate			2.75%
DigitalGlobe | Syndicated Credit Facility
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Aggregate principal amount		$ 3,750					$ 3,800
Loss from early extinguishment of debt		$ 23
DigitalGlobe | Senior secured first lien revolving credit facility
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Term of debt		4 years
DigitalGlobe | Senior Secured First Lien Operating Facility
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Term of debt		4 years
DigitalGlobe | Syndicated Credit Facility and 2024 Term Notes
Long-term debt and interest expenses
Make-whole premium for termination		$ 20
Amortization of capitalized financing fees		$ 3