Segment information - Operating performance (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Total revenues	$ 392	$ 381
Corporate and other expense	(23)	(10)
Transaction and integration related expense		(1)
Inventory impairment		(14)
Depreciation and amortization	(74)	(90)
Interest expense, net	(78)	(49)
Interest income	1	1
Equity loss (income) from joint ventures, net of tax		1
Loss before taxes	(84)	(75)
Operating Segments
Segment information
Total revenues	(13)	(22)
Operating Segments | Earth Intelligence
Segment information
Total revenues	250	271
Adjusted EBITDA	107	133
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure
Segment information
Total revenues	155	132
Adjusted EBITDA	(12)	(39)
Intersegment eliminations
Segment information
Total revenues	(13)	(22)
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (5)	$ (7)