Revenues - Disaggregation of revenues from significant customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Revenue
Revenues	$ 437	$ 436	$ 1,302	$ 1,256
U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	225	267	703	808
Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	212	169	599	448
Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	(14)	(19)	(43)	(64)
Intersegment eliminations | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	(14)	(19)	(43)	(64)
Earth intelligence | Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	271	274	804	823
Earth intelligence | Operating Segments | U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	174	198	525	600
Earth intelligence | Operating Segments | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	$ 97	$ 76	$ 279	$ 223
Space Infrastructure | Commercial customer | Revenue | Customer concentration risk
Revenue
Concentration risk, percentage	18.00%		19.00%
Space Infrastructure | Commercial customer | Revenue | Customer concentration risk | Maximum
Revenue
Concentration risk, percentage		10.00%		10.00%
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments
Revenue
Revenues	$ 180	$ 181	$ 541	$ 497
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments | U.S. Federal Government and agencies
Revenue
Revenues	51	69	178	208
Space Infrastructure | Operating Segments | Commercial and other
Revenue
Revenues	129	112	363	289
Space Infrastructure | Intersegment eliminations
Revenue
Revenues	$ 14	$ 19	$ 43	$ 64