Segment information - Capital expenditures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	$ 44	$ 56
Capital expenditures, intangible assets	16	14
Capital expenditures	60	70
Intersegment eliminations
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	7	1
Capital expenditures, intangible assets		1
Capital expenditures	7	2
Earth Intelligence | Operating Segments
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	34	50
Capital expenditures, intangible assets	16	13
Capital expenditures	50	63
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments
Segment information
Capital expenditures, property, plant and equipment	3	5
Capital expenditures	$ 3	$ 5