Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of preparation	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 generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“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. 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. 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.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted Reference Rate Reform In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, 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 market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company elected to apply the amendments beginning in the second quarter of 2022. On June 30, 2022, the Company amended its existing interest rate swaps that mature in June 2023 to modify the designated hedged interest rate risk from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) in connection with the Company's amendment and restatement of its Syndicated Credit Facility (as defined below) and elected to apply the contract modification optional expedient to the amendments and consider the amendments as a continuation of the existing contracts without performing an assessment that would otherwise be required under U.S. GAAP. See Note 8 for additional details regarding the amendments to the existing interest swaps.

Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Summary of significant accounting policies

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 generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“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.

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. 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

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.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, 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 market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company elected to apply the amendments beginning in the second quarter of 2022. On June 30, 2022, the Company amended its existing interest rate swaps that mature in June 2023 to modify the designated hedged interest rate risk from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) in connection with the Company's amendment and restatement of its Syndicated Credit Facility (as defined below) and elected to apply the contract modification optional expedient to the amendments and consider the amendments as a continuation of the existing contracts without performing an assessment that would otherwise be required under U.S. GAAP. See Note 8 for additional details regarding the amendments to the existing interest swaps.