Terran Orbital names Cardi to lead European operations and strategic programs
Margherita Cardi has been promoted to Vice President of European Operations and Head of Strategic Programs at Terran Orbital. She will oversee all local functions in Italy and report directly to CEO Peter Krauss. Cardi previously managed the Milani CubeSat program for ESA's Hera planetary defense mission.
Margherita Cardi's promotion marks a significant step for Tyvak International's European arm, as she becomes the top operational leader for its Italian operations. Having joined the company in 2016 as its third employee, she has progressed through systems engineering, program management, and business development roles. Her direct reporting line to CEO Peter Krauss underscores the strategic importance of the European unit.
A key highlight of her tenure is managing the Milani CubeSat for ESA's Hera mission, which is set to arrive at the Didymos asteroid system in late 2026. Before Tyvak, she supported the Vega launch program at Vitrociset, including campaigns in French Guiana. She holds advanced degrees in space engineering from Sapienza University of Rome. Krauss will continue as Tyvak's managing director.
This promotion could bolster Europe's standing in deep-space exploration, as Cardi's leadership may help secure further institutional contracts for Tyvak International. The successful execution of the Hera mission, with Milani's release, may provide critical data on asteroid deflection, potentially informing future planetary defense strategies globally. For the regional workforce, this signals continued investment in Italian space engineering, possibly creating more high-skilled jobs and reinforcing the country's role in the broader aerospace ecosystem.