Revenue - Disaggregation of revenue by source (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenue
Revenues	$ 439	$ 412	$ 820	$ 843
COVID-19 | Commercial Satellite Contract
Revenue
Estimated total cost of completion	2		14
Estimated Loss	17		36
Product
Revenue
Revenues	157	144	264	310
Service
Revenue
Revenues	282	268	556	533
Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Orbital interest revenue	7	8	14	15
Space Infrastructure | COVID-19
Revenue
Estimated total cost of completion	6		24
Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	(23)	(32)	(45)	(65)
Operating Segments | Earth intelligence
Revenue
Revenues	278	263	549	517
Operating Segments | Earth intelligence | Service
Revenue
Revenues	278	263	549	517
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues	184	181	316	391
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure | Product
Revenue
Revenues	157	144	264	310
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure | Service
Revenue
Revenues	4	5	7	16
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	(23)	(32)	(45)	(65)
Intersegment eliminations | Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues	$ 23	$ 32	$ 45	$ 65