Revenue - Disaggregation of revenue from significant customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Revenue
Revenues	$ 392	$ 381
U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	237	264
Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	$ 155	$ 117
Commercial and other | Revenue | Customer concentration risk
Revenue
Concentration risk, percentage	19.00%
Commercial and other | Revenue | Customer concentration risk | Maximum
Revenue
Concentration risk, percentage		10.00%
Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	$ (13)	$ (22)
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	(13)	(22)
Intersegment eliminations | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	(13)	(22)
Earth intelligence
Revenue
Revenues	250	271
Earth intelligence | U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	171	199
Earth intelligence | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	79	72
Earth intelligence | Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	250	271
Space Infrastructure
Revenue
Revenues	155	132
Space Infrastructure | U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	66	65
Space Infrastructure | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	89	67
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	155	132
Space Infrastructure | Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	$ 13	$ 22