ALBAWABA — A U.S.-based startup says it has begun accepting $1 million advance reservations for what it plans to be the first hotel on the Moon, targeting an opening date of 2032 in a move that could redefine luxury travel and space tourism.
The company, Galactic Resource Utilization (GRU), said prospective guests must place a seven-figure deposit to secure a spot among the inaugural visitors. GRU describes the project as the first permanent human facility beyond Earth, designed to support short stays on the lunar surface.
Backers and Vision
Founded in 2025 by Skyler Chan, a University of California, Berkeley graduate, GRU has attracted backing from SpaceX, led by Elon Musk. Chan says the hotel is intended as more than a novelty, calling it an entry point to a broader lunar economy that could enable sustained human activity off Earth.
How It Will Be Built
GRU plans to rely on in-situ resource utilization, a technique that converts lunar soil into durable building materials using geopolymer processes. Construction is expected to start in 2029, subject to regulatory approvals, and will roll out in phases:
- 2029: A test mission to produce building blocks from Moon soil and trial an inflatable structure.
- 2031: Placement of a larger habitat within a deep lunar crater to benefit from more stable temperatures.
- 2032: Official opening, with full life-support systems and capacity for up to four guests at a time.
Over time, the company aims to encase the habitat in a solid outer shell made from local materials, adding protection from radiation and extreme temperatures while delivering a high-end, classic interior design.
Who Can Go
Early guests are expected to include ultra-wealthy travelers, veterans of commercial spaceflights, and couples seeking an extraordinary honeymoon. GRU says planned activities include lunar rover excursions and panoramic views of Earth from the Moon’s surface.
What Comes Next
Beyond the hotel, GRU outlines ambitions to establish a U.S. base on the Moon, replicate the concept on Mars, and eventually develop space real estate as off-planet infrastructure matures. The company acknowledges major uncertainties—such as launch costs, crewed mission availability, and lunar power and communications—but argues that tourism offers the fastest path to making humanity multi-planetary.
GRU concedes the project carries significant risk, but says success could mark a turning point in human exploration and settlement beyond Earth.
