Segment information - Operating performance (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Total revenues	$ 1,723	$ 1,666	$ 1,804
Corporate and other expense	(61)	(86)	(49)
Restructuring		(18)	(13)
Transaction and integration related expense	(7)	(16)	(33)
Inventory impairment	(47)	(17)	(652)
Gain on sale of assets	(1)	136	33
Reduction of gain on sale leaseback	(1)	136	33
CEO severance		(3)
Gain on remeasurement of Vricon equity interest	85
Depreciation and amortization	(348)	(376)	(439)
Interest expense, net	(175)	(219)	(200)
Interest income	3	2
Equity loss (income) from joint ventures, net of tax	(1)	(11)	(2)
(Loss) income before taxes	(69)	77	(923)
Other (income) expense
Segment information
Gain on remeasurement of Vricon equity interest	85
Operating Segments
Segment information
Total revenues	(79)	(125)	(78)
Operating Segments | Earth Intelligence
Segment information
Total revenues	1,081	1,085	1,059
Adjusted EBITDA	513	548	516
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure
Segment information
Total revenues	721	706	823
Adjusted EBITDA	(3)	(17)	(75)
Intersegment eliminations
Segment information
Total revenues	(79)	(125)	(78)
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (27)	$ (29)	$ (9)