Segment information - Operating performance (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of reportable segments \| segment			2
Total revenues	$ 439	$ 412	$ 820	$ 843
Corporate and other expense	(12)	(19)	(22)	(39)
Restructuring		(4)		(15)
Transaction and integration related expense	(3)	(2)	(4)	(7)
Inventory impairment			(14)	(3)
Satellite insurance recoveries		183		183
CEO severance				(3)
Depreciation and amortization	(89)	(96)	(179)	(191)
Interest expense, net	(48)	(49)	(97)	(98)
Interest income			1
Equity loss (income) from joint ventures, net of tax	(2)	2	(1)	3
(Loss) income before taxes	(4)	142	(79)	76
Operating Segments
Segment information
Total revenues	(23)	(32)	(45)	(65)
Operating Segments \| Earth Intelligence
Segment information
Total revenues	278	263	549	517
Adjusted EBITDA	146	124	279	249
Operating Segments \| Space Infrastructure
Segment information
Total revenues	184	181	316	391
Adjusted EBITDA	11	7	(28)	5
Intersegment eliminations
Segment information
Total revenues	(23)	(32)	(45)	(65)
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (7)	$ (4)	$ (14)	$ (8)

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