Revenue - Disaggregation of revenue by source (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue
Revenues	$ 1,723	$ 1,666	$ 1,804
Product
Revenue
Revenues	633	560	697
Service
Revenue
Revenues	1,090	1,106	1,107
Earth intelligence
Revenue
Revenues	1,081	1,085	1,059
Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues	721	706	823
Space Infrastructure | Commercial Satellite Contract
Revenue
Estimated loss	42
Space Infrastructure | COVID-19
Revenue
Growth in estimated total cost-at-completion ("EAC")	27
Space Infrastructure | COVID-19 | Commercial Satellite Contract
Revenue
Estimated loss	16
Space Systems
Revenue
Orbital interest revenue	30	31	32
Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	(79)	(125)	(78)
Operating Segments | Earth intelligence
Revenue
Revenues	1,081	1,085	1,059
Operating Segments | Earth intelligence | Service
Revenue
Revenues	1,081	1,085	1,058
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues	721	706	823
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure | Product
Revenue
Revenues	633	560	697
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure | Service
Revenue
Revenues	9	21	49
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	(79)	(125)	(78)
Intersegment eliminations | Earth intelligence
Revenue
Revenues			1
Intersegment eliminations | Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues	$ 79	$ 125	$ 77