Space pirates are science fiction or fantasy character archetypes who operate as pirates in outer space as opposed to on the sea: capturing and plundering ships for cargo, money, and the ships themselves. Space pirates tend to share many traits with the classical pirate archetype, characterized as ruthless criminals; as selfish, greedy, rude, evil, and generally contemptible persons. Works of fiction vary widely in how they characterize and explore the archetype, just as with classical and modern depictions of pirates. Pirates may be depicted as protagonists, antagonists, neutral parties, redshirts, anti-heroes and so forth. The term Space pirate may refer to:
- The Space Pirates, one of the main antagonists and species of the Metroid video game series
- Space Pirates (video game), a light-gun Laserdisc video game
- Space Pirates (novel), the eighth book in the Ryder Hook series (written in German)
- Space Pirates (series), a children's television series on CBeebies
- Isaac Asimov's novel Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids
- "The Space Pirates", a 1969 serial of Doctor Who
- Lars Fuchs from the Grand Tour series of novels by Ben Bova
- Orions (Star Trek), who menaced many space travelers in the original Star Trek TV series
- Starjammers, a team of space pirates from the pages of the X-Men comic books
- Des'maric Pirates or Cavrilhu Pirates, among others, in the fictional Star Wars Expanded Universe
- Captain Harlock and Queen Emeraldas, in the fictional anime and manga universe created by Leiji Matsumoto
- Turanic Raiders of the Homeworld series.
- The Kei Pirates syndicate on the anime series Outlaw Star
- The protagonists of the anime Sol Bianca, April, Feb, Jani, Jun, and Mayu, who are space pirates
- Ryoko from the anime and manga Tenchi Muyo!
- The Spelljammer campaign of Dungeons and Dragons
