GRU Space announced on Monday that it is accepting reservations for future stays at a lunar hotel, with deposits ranging from $250,000 to $1 million securing a spot on early lunar surface missions projected to begin in as little as six years. The company, founded by recent University of California, Berkeley graduate Skyler Chan, envisions a series of increasingly sophisticated lunar habitats, culminating in a hotel inspired by the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

The ambitious project enters a burgeoning space tourism market, currently dominated by suborbital flights offered by companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin. GRU Space aims to differentiate itself by offering extended stays on the lunar surface. While the $250,000 deposit secures a reservation, the total cost of a lunar stay remains undisclosed.

Chan acknowledged the skepticism surrounding the project, given the company's current size of just one full-time employee besides himself as of late December. However, he expressed unwavering commitment to the long-term potential of lunar tourism. "It sounds crazy, doesn't it?" Chan said in a statement. "But I am perfectly earnest about all of this...my belief is that the surest long-term commercial activity on the Moon will be lunar tourism—it would be an amazing destination."

The announcement comes amid increasing interest in lunar resources and commercial opportunities. However, Chan believes tourism will be the most sustainable long-term venture. The company has not released detailed financial projections or secured major funding rounds. The success of GRU Space hinges on technological advancements in space travel, infrastructure development on the Moon, and sustained investor confidence in the nascent space tourism sector.

The next steps for GRU Space involve securing further funding, expanding its team, and developing the necessary technologies for lunar habitation. The company's timeline remains aggressive, with the first missions planned within six years, dependent on significant progress in these areas.