Segment information - Operating performance (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Total revenues	$ 436	$ 437	$ 1,279	$ 1,302
Corporate and other expenses	(28)	(20)	(73)	(62)
Offset obligation fulfillment	(12)		(12)
Restructuring	(5)		(10)
Transaction and integration related expense		(1)	(1)	(1)
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	1		1
Depreciation and amortization	(64)	(74)	(199)	(221)
Interest expense, net	(30)	(25)	(129)	(127)
Interest income	1	1	2	2
Income (loss) before taxes	1	14	(35)	(35)
Operating Segments | Earth Intelligence
Segment information
Total revenues	275	271	810	804
Adjusted EBITDA	115	124	343	362
Operating Segments | Space Infrastructure.
Segment information
Total revenues	186	180	549	541
Adjusted EBITDA	33	14	71	29
Intersegment eliminations
Segment information
Total revenues	(25)	(14)	(80)	(43)
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (10)	$ (5)	$ (28)	$ (17)