What was the show in the 90's on Australian tv that had puppet astronaut people that were flying through space in a pirate ship style space ship?

Answer 1

There were a number of Science Fiction shows featuring the patented Gerry Anderson process known as Supermarionation. It is not rendered Superanimation. some of the venues and plots were updated standard dramatic conventions, the Supercar, one of the earliest, had overtones of comedy and the lead character the operator of the Supercar, Mike Mercury, was a take-off on the actor Dean Martin. The later Fireball XLV (number may derive from either 45 degree angle of attack or abbreviation for Experimental Launch Vehicle- in effect future AF drama with a touch of dragnet procedurals. Thunderbirds dealt with a Bonzanza-updated brother-act Rescue squad, an updated salvage company, with much special effects. there were others, i Do not recall anything with puppets, or supermarionation dealing with Piracy at least directly. By the way the process is called Supermarionation and NOT Superanimation, used a good deal of models, pyro technics for rocket shots, etc. and almost a 3-d cartoon effect characters could move around , very convincing.