Summary of significant accounting policies - Narratives (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021 item	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Significant accounting policies
Equity			$ 935	$ 761
Accumulated deficit			(763)	(1,064)
Orbital Receivables
Number of international financial institutions | item		2
Term of facility		7 years
Prior period error correction adjustment
Significant accounting policies
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			18
Accumulated deficit			(18)
Selling, general and administrative
Research and development
Research and development costs			15	10	$ 88
Prepaid and other current assets
Significant accounting policies
Current deferred contract costs			6	6
Other non-current assets
Significant accounting policies
Non-current deferred contract costs			$ 41	37
Enhanced View contract
Significant accounting policies
Number of performance obligations | item			1
Contractual term			10 years
Period of option					3 years
Term of first option year exercised	1 year
Direct Access Program
Significant accounting policies
Number of performance obligations | item			2
Space Infrastructure | COVID-19
Significant accounting policies
Growth in estimated total cost-at-completion ("EAC")			$ 27
Space Infrastructure | Commercial Satellite Contract
Significant accounting policies
Estimated loss			42
Space Infrastructure | Commercial Satellite Contract | COVID-19
Significant accounting policies
Estimated loss			16
Pension Adjustments
Significant accounting policies
Equity			$ (101)	$ (73)	$ (47)	$ (42)