American Startup GRU Space Opens Reservations for Inaugural Lunar Hotel by 2032

Imagine waking up in a suite where the view outside your window isn't a city skyline or a mountain range, but the stark, cratered expanse of the lunar surface, with the Earth hanging in the blackness like a luminous blue marble. This vision, once reserved for the realms of high-budget science fiction, is rapidly approaching reality. The American startup GRU Space, which stands for Galactic Resource Utilization Space, has officially opened reservations for the first-ever hotel on the Moon. With a target opening date of 2032, the company is inviting a new generation of interplanetary pioneers—from adventurous millionaires to couples seeking a truly out-of-this-world honeymoon—to be part of a historic leap beyond our home planet.

The project gained significant credibility after being selected for the prestigious Y Combinator incubator's Winter 2026 batch. Formally announced on January 12, 2026, the company is led by 22-year-old founder Skyler Chan. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a resume that includes experience at both Tesla and NASA, Chan is driven by a mission to make the Moon a viable destination for more than just government astronauts. In the startup's official whitepaper, Chan describes their work as laying the foundation for an expanding lunar infrastructure where tourism serves as the first sustainable business model off-world. The leadership team is bolstered by scientific heavyweights, including lunar regolith specialist Dr. Kevin Cannon and former NASA mission lead Dr. Robert Lillis.

The development of the lunar hotel is planned as a multi-stage progression. The first major milestone is set for 2029, when a test mission will be dispatched to the Moon to demonstrate In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies. This process involves converting lunar soil, or regolith, into durable building materials such as bricks that can withstand extreme radiation and the impact of micrometeoroids. By manufacturing shielding on-site, GRU Space aims to significantly reduce the weight and cost of materials launched from Earth, making the entire enterprise more economically sustainable. This technological proof of concept is essential for the long-term safety of future guests.

Following the success of the initial tests, a 2031 mission will deploy a larger module within a lunar cave, utilizing the natural terrain for additional protection against the harsh space environment. Finally, in 2032, the V1 Hotel is scheduled to open its doors. This inflatable habitat is designed to house four guests at a time for stays lasting several days. The experience will be far from sedentary; visitors will have the opportunity to conduct moonwalks in specialized suits, explore the terrain in lunar rovers, and even play golf in the Moon's low-gravity environment. The hotel is intended to operate for at least ten years, with plans for future versions to accommodate up to ten people.

The aesthetic of the second module is notably inspired by the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, blending classical architectural elegance with the rugged functionality required for space survival. To handle the logistics of getting guests to the lunar surface, GRU Space intends to partner with established aerospace leaders like SpaceX and Blue Origin. The project relies heavily on the availability of next-generation launch vehicles, such as the Starship, which are designed to radically lower the cost of space transportation. These partnerships are seen as the backbone of the transportation network required to make lunar tourism a recurring reality.

For those ready to book their passage, the financial commitment is as significant as the journey itself. The process begins with a non-refundable $1,000 application fee. If an applicant is selected, they must provide a refundable deposit ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000 to secure their place in the queue. The total price for a five-day tour, including the flight and the stay, is expected to exceed $10 million per person, which equates to roughly $416,667 per night. However, the company has stated that as infrastructure expands, they aim to reduce the price for future modules to less than $83,000 per night. The target audience includes everyone from veteran space travelers who have flown with Virgin Galactic to couples looking for the ultimate lunar honeymoon.

While the ambition of the project is undeniable, it faces the typical hurdles of the aerospace industry. GRU Space does not yet have formal contracts with NASA, though they are positioning themselves to participate in the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The feasibility of the hotel depends on the successful execution of ISRU technology, regulatory approvals, and the continued decline in launch costs. While experts warn of the potential for delays, they also praise the startup's focus on the lunar economy as a critical step toward permanent human bases and the eventual colonization of Mars. This represents a significant evolution in travel, moving from terrestrial safaris and Antarctic cruises to the stars.

For people across the globe, from the high-tech cities of Asia to the quietest corners of Europe, this announcement serves as a signal that the frontiers of travel are moving. As industry giants like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk pave the way, the Moon is becoming a reachable destination for a growing number of people. GRU Space is offering more than just a room; they are providing a chance to be a part of the next chapter in human history. The question for the world's most adventurous travelers is no longer if they should go, but if they are ready for liftoff.