Moon Hotel Bookings Open for 2032 Stays

Space tourism just got a lot more ambitious. GRU Space, a US startup, has opened booking requests for what could become the first hotel on the Moon, with stays planned for as early as 2032.

The company envisions an inflatable structure launched from Earth and expanded on the lunar surface. The habitat would accommodate up to four guests at a time, offering an experience unlike anything available on our planet.

Getting on the guest list won't be easy or cheap. Applicants must pay a $1,000 non-refundable application fee just to be considered. Selected guests will then need to place deposits ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, depending on their chosen experience, with final pricing expected to exceed $10 million per stay.

The timeline is surprisingly specific for such an audacious goal. GRU Space has penciled in initial lunar testing for 2031, with the first guest stays following in 2032. The company estimates the hotel structure will have a 10-year operational lifetime.

The technical challenges are immense. No inflatable structure has ever been assembled on the Moon, and sustaining human life there for extended periods remains unproven. The total equipment payload alone would weigh about 20,000 pounds.

The Ripple Effect

This announcement reflects a broader shift in how humanity views space. Private companies are now competing to make off-Earth experiences accessible to civilians, not just astronauts. GRU Space has already announced plans to expand their lunar site to accommodate 10 guests and eventually build a similar hotel on Mars.

The momentum extends beyond this single project. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is backing Orbital Reef, a commercial space station designed for tourism and research. Another company, Above Space Development, aims to open Voyager Station by 2027, featuring restaurants, gyms, and room for 440 people in Earth's orbit.

These ventures mark a fundamental transformation in space exploration, from government-led missions to private enterprise opening the final frontier to adventurous travelers.

Whether GRU Space can deliver on its moonshot promise remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the dream of space tourism is moving from science fiction to business plan.