Lunar Hotel Reservations Open for $250,000

GRU Space, a startup founded by a recent UC Berkeley graduate, began accepting reservations for a lunar hotel, offering a glimpse into the future of space tourism. Deposits ranging from $250,000 to $1 million secure a spot on one of the company's early lunar surface missions, potentially launching as early as six years from now, according to Ars Technica.

The ambitious project aims to construct a series of increasingly sophisticated habitats on the Moon, culminating in a hotel inspired by the Palace of the Fine Arts in San Francisco. The company publicly announced its intent on Monday, inviting interested individuals to reserve a berth.

Despite its small size, with founder Skyler Chan noting he had only one full-time employee besides himself as of late December, GRU Space is targeting the emerging space tourism market. The venture could significantly impact the nascent space tourism industry, pending successful development and execution.

The project's success hinges on GRU Space's ability to overcome the considerable technical and logistical challenges associated with establishing a permanent presence on the Moon. However, the company is betting on the long-term potential of tourism beyond Earth.