Galactic Resource Utilisation Space, a San-Francisco-based start-up known as GRU Space, has shared its designs for what it calls a hotel on the Moon. If the plans were completed, they say the hotel would become “the first ever permanent off-Earth structure built in history”.
While humans have not yet started to build elsewhere than on Earth, things could soon change. While NASA’s Administrator, Jared Isaacman, recently unveiled plans to establish the beginnings of a permanent Moon base by 2030, GRU Space aims to have its first hotel on the Moon by 2032.
“Our thesis is simple: space tourism will be the fastest economic wedge to spin up the lunar economy. By building the first hotel on the Moon, we introduce immediate, tangible value for customers on Earth, while proving the same core capabilities required for permanent surface infrastructure. We position ourselves as the primary architect of humanity’s future on the Moon, Mars, and beyond”, GRU Space explains in a whitepaper released in January 2026.
The start-up has released its plans for its first Moon hotel, featuring lunar regolith bricks, Doric columns, and a central rotunda. Inside, internal inflatable modules would be used to shape the hotel, with room for up to 10 guests in its final version.
How to become interplanetary
In its whitepaper, GRU Space explains that the hotel would be accessible through commercial flights operated by companies such as Blue Origin and SpaceX. It aims for a public of adventurers, repeat private spaceflight participants, and people who want to take their honeymoon to the next level.
“We live during an inflexion point where we can actually become interplanetary before we die. The key technical challenge we face is that humans cannot expand beyond Earth until we solve habitation on the Moon. [This is] the Promethean moment that allows for an exciting future in space. If we succeed, billions of human lives will be born on the Moon and Mars and be able to experience the beauty of lunar and martian life”, said GRU Space founder Skyler Chan.
At the moment, GRU has made plans for two different versions of the hotel. V1, the smallest of the two, would leave room for four guests and is scheduled to be built in 2031, whereas V2 would allow up to 10 people to enjoy the hotel. Before starting the actual building projects, GRU Space is planning on organising two preliminary missions – respectively in 2029 and 2031 – to test the applied technology and building technique beforehand. Those who already want to secure a spot at the First Lunar Hotel may do so through GRU Space’s website. Final pricing has not yet been determined, but will likely exceed $10 million according to the start-up. When applying for a spot at the hotel, a $1,000 non-refundable app fee is required. Moreover, additional personal, medical, and financial information and documents may be asked “to verify your ability to travel and maintain your spot,” according to the firm.
