Revenue - Disaggregation of revenue from significant customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue
Revenues	$ 381	$ 431
U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	264	213
Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	117	218
Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	(22)	(33)
Operating Segments | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	(22)	(33)
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	(22)	(33)
Earth intelligence | Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	271	254
Earth intelligence | Operating Segments | U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	199	190
Earth intelligence | Operating Segments | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	72	64
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	132	210
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments | U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	65	23
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	67	187
Space Infrastructure | Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	$ 22	$ 33