January 15, 2026 | 02:31 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A California-based startup has opened hotel room reservations on the moon with a hefty US$1 million deposit. The company, Galactic Resource Utilization Space (GRU), is targeting the first moon hotel to be operational by 2032.
GRU stated that prospective guests must deposit an initial US$1 million or around Rp16.9 billion, to be part of the first visitors to stay in what the company claimed to be the "first-ever permanent off-Earth structure."
The company, founded by Skyler Chan, a graduate from the University of California Berkeley, launched the booking site on January 12. During the launch, GRU also unveiled the architectural design of the hotel and its technical construction plans on the surface of the moon.
GRU has stated that they will use their own modular housing system and automated processes to transform lunar soil into a durable building structure. The hotel's construction is planned to commence in 2029, with the condition of obtaining regulatory approval.
The target customers for the first lunar hotel are wealthy individuals who have previously taken commercial space flights, as well as newlywed couples seeking an extreme honeymoon experience. GRU evaluates the tourism sector as the main driver for the development of the lunar economy.
"We live during an inflection point where we can actually become interplanetary before we die," Chan was quoted from a report by Space on January 13, 2026.
"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."
21-year-old Chan developed the idea for the lunar hotel through the Y Combinator startup accelerator program. He mentioned that he has obtained funding from investors who are also behind SpaceX and Anduril, an autonomous defense system developer.
The plan to build a permanent base on the moon is in line with the U.S.'s vision for space expansion, backed by President Donald Trump and led by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. GRU hopes to play a role in realizing this agenda.
Additionally, GRU has released a white paper outlining the strategy for expanding human presence on the moon, starting from building luxury hotels to developing larger settlements.
"I've been obsessed with space since I was a kid," Chan said. "I've always wanted to become an astronaut, and feel extremely fortunate to be doing my life's work."
Read: Interesting Facts About Ciel Dubai Marina, World's Tallest Hotel
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