<p>This paper contributes to a greater understanding of the new phenomenon that has occurred in tourism, thus space tourism. The intention with the paper is to study the phenomenon of space tourism and its impacts on the local community of Kiruna based on the practice of sustainable development. Our essay illustrates how the persons involved see on this attraction. It also reflects what needs to be done and what can be improved in order that space tourism not only develops to be an exciting experience, but also above all a sustainable one. The paper is exploratory and the method applied in the study is a qualitative study with a hermeneutic approach. Eight interviews with persons who can provide us facts, information and knowledge in the field of space tourism have been carried out. In the theoretical section, elements of tourism impacts concerning environmental, economic, socialand cultural aspects along with space tourism as a phenomenon and its progression are presented. This contributes to a deeper insight into what space tourism is. In the empirical part of the paper, space tourism as an experience and how space tourism in Kiruna is in the present are described. In the same section, there is a description of our informants and their activities, followed by our collected interview material divided into space tourism's impacts on Kiruna regarding environmental, economic, social and cultural aspects. In the analysis, the progression of space tourism and how the space tourism can affect Kiruna based on the three aspects concerning sustainability are discussed. In conclusion, we find that in order to develop a desirable basis for sustainable space tourism, Kiruna needs clearer guidance andactive responsibility taking. The reached result is that the participants involved must strive to create balance in all aspects of sustainable development. Focus should not only be on the economic aspect. We believe that further action is needed in the space tourism branch and wehave thus set out recommendations on how to create a sustainable development of space tourism in Kiruna. Finally, proposals for continued research are presented.</p>

This paper contributes to a greater understanding of the new phenomenon that has occurred in tourism, thus space tourism. The intention with the paper is to study the phenomenon of space tourism and its impacts on the local community of Kiruna based on the practice of sustainable development. Our essay illustrates how the persons involved see on this attraction. It also reflects what needs to be done and what can be improved in order that space tourism not only develops to be an exciting experience, but also above all a sustainable one. The paper is exploratory and the method applied in the study is a qualitative study with a hermeneutic approach. Eight interviews with persons who can provide us facts, information and knowledge in the field of space tourism have been carried out. In the theoretical section, elements of tourism impacts concerning environmental, economic, socialand cultural aspects along with space tourism as a phenomenon and its progression are presented. This contributes to a deeper insight into what space tourism is. In the empirical part of the paper, space tourism as an experience and how space tourism in Kiruna is in the present are described. In the same section, there is a description of our informants and their activities, followed by our collected interview material divided into space tourism's impacts on Kiruna regarding environmental, economic, social and cultural aspects. In the analysis, the progression of space tourism and how the space tourism can affect Kiruna based on the three aspects concerning sustainability are discussed. In conclusion, we find that in order to develop a desirable basis for sustainable space tourism, Kiruna needs clearer guidance andactive responsibility taking. The reached result is that the participants involved must strive to create balance in all aspects of sustainable development. Focus should not only be on the economic aspect. We believe that further action is needed in the space tourism branch and wehave thus set out recommendations on how to create a sustainable development of space tourism in Kiruna. Finally, proposals for continued research are presented.