No Man's Sky has a new update available called Outlaws, and in it, space pirates have started a campaign of colonization throughout the galaxies.
While pirates have been around for ages in the game, they have been mostly quiet. But that's all in the past as now they are using space stations as their base for occupying the surrounding system and conducting their smuggling enterprises. You can choose whether to confront them in dynamic space combat, or become an ally by joining in their smuggling activities.
Should you choose to battle the space pirates, you can recruit a squadron of pilots, who will warp in and join you as needed. A group can be formed by recruiting wingmen out in the galaxy, or by upgrading your crew to an elite unit.