Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Maxar Technologies Inc., and all consolidated subsidiary entities. The Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated on consolidation. The Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for certain financial assets and liabilities including derivative financial instruments which are stated at fair value. References to “C$” refer to Canadian currency. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated, amounts provided in the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements pertain to continuing operations (See Note 3 for information on discontinued operations). Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. In management’s opinion, all adjustments of a normal recurring nature that are necessary for a fair statement of the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been included.
Use of estimates, assumptions and judgments	Use of estimates, assumptions and judgments The preparation of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingencies at the reporting date, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared using the most current and best available information; however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Purchase Price Allocation	Purchase Price Allocation On July 1, 2020, the Company closed the acquisition of Vricon, Inc. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company finalized the purchase price allocation related to the acquisition. There were no adjustments from the preliminary purchase price allocation determined as of December 31, 2020.
Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted	Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted Reference Rate Reform In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”), which together with subsequent amendments is intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company expects that it will elect to apply some of the expedients and exceptions in ASU 2020-04. However, the Company is still evaluating the guidance and the impact that adoption of ASU 2020-04 will have on the Company's financial statements.

Summary of significant accounting policies

Use of estimates, assumptions and judgments

The preparation of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingencies at the reporting date, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared using the most current and best available information; however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”), which together with subsequent amendments is intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company expects that it will elect to apply some of the expedients and exceptions in ASU 2020-04. However, the Company is still evaluating the guidance and the impact that adoption of ASU 2020-04 will have on the Company's financial statements.