A Silicon Valley space startup has begun accepting applications and six-figure deposits for what it calls the first hotel on the Moon, with a total trip cost expected to exceed $10 million per stay. Galactic Resource Utilization Space, or GRU Space, says its lunar hotel project aims to host a small group of paying guests in inflatable habitats on the lunar surface from the early 2030s, positioning the venture as an early step in a wider “lunar economy.” According to company materials and Space.com coverage, reservations opened in January with a long lead time, an extensive screening process, and a price tag aimed at ultra-wealthy travelers.
How The First Lunar Hotel Reservations Work
GRU Space’s reservation portal outlines an “Apply for Early Access to the First Lunar Hotel” process in which applicants submit personal information and pay a non-refundable $1,000 application fee to join the queue. If selected, they are invited to sign a deposit agreement and place a refundable deposit of $250,000 or $1,000,000, depending on the option chosen, which will be credited toward the final price of the stay once the hotel opens.
According to the company, deposits become fully refundable after the first thirty days. GRU Space’s site states that final pricing “has not yet been determined,” but “will likely exceed ten million dollars.” A New York Post report notes that the deposit covers only the hotel component, while transport to and from the Moon would add several million dollars more, likely through a separate launch provider such as SpaceX or Blue Origin.
What A Ten Million Dollar Moon Stay Promises
According to details on GRU Space’s homepage, the first iteration of the lunar hotel would be an inflatable structure pre-built on Earth and delivered to the Moon’s surface by a heavy lander. Plans call for a capacity of up to four guests at a time in pressurized habitats designed for multi-day stays, with windows oriented toward both the lunar landscape and Earth.
The structure is designed for a working life of about 10 years, after which a more permanent complex will replace it. GRU Space’s proposed guest activities include guided moonwalks on the surface, rover driving, and a low-gravity version of golf, alongside standard hotel offerings such as dining and rest areas.
Euronews reports that the initial hotel module could later be expanded into a complex that hosts up to 10 guests and could serve as a stepping stone for a similar destination on Mars. GRU Space’s public materials present the hotel as part of a larger technical roadmap that uses in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), or the construction of structures from lunar soil, to create longer-lasting structures.
