Is this how the man on the moon would like to live? The US start-up "GRU Space" advertises the "First Hotel on the Moon". It is scheduled to open in 2032. Advance reservations are accepted: from the equivalent of 200,000 euros per night.
The "First Lunar Hotel" is to be opened and put into operation in just six years, according to the young company "GRU Space" from San Francisco. The team led by Skyler Chan, 22, wants to take space tourism to a new commercial level and enable a "lunar economy" in the long term. Space vacationers are already expected to pay upwards of 250,000 US dollars per night for accommodation.
According to Ars Technica, start-up founder Skyler Chan, 22, and his team plan to use the revenue from the hotel to later finance the construction of roads, warehouses or even industrial infrastructure on the moon. Unlike traditional space projects, which are heavily dependent on government programs, "GRU Space" relies on private demand and rapid implementation.
Ever since Jeff Bezos' space travel company "Blue Origin" or Elon Musk's "SpaceX", it has almost become a matter of course that tourists, whether famous or equipped with the necessary small change, can fly into space. The next step in space tourism could soon be imminent; then not only a return ticket, but also an overnight stay on the moon could be part of the orbital excursion. NASA experts believe that permanent buildings on the moon could be possible within the next few decades. The development of space architecture is now considered a growing field, supported by NASA's Artemis campaign, which is preparing a long-term presence on the moon and aims to travel to Mars.
Renderings indicate that the hotel will have a futuristic appearance, consisting of a central rotunda and three covered colonnades leading into smaller building complexes. Initially, an inflatable structure will serve as a base, which will be erected on Earth and then transported to the moon. Construction is planned to start in 2029 at the earliest, with a possible opening currently being discussed for 2032 - subject to official approvals and technical feasibility. According to the start-up, the final version of the hotel is planned for up to ten guests.
According to the website, the offer is currently aimed at "adventurers, returning private space travelers and couples who want to take their honeymoon to an extraordinary level".
But even if you have the necessary change, you should be more than vigilant before booking your first night in the Moon Hotel. It is not only the young founder's ambitious plans that are attracting attention, but also the booking model. Wealthy interested parties can already reserve a place in the hotel - for a deposit of between 250,000 and 1,000,000 US dollars (approx. 200,000-850,000 euros), but it is still unclear whether and when such stays will actually be possible. Construction, financing and approvals for the project have not yet been completed.
But one thing is certain: the idea of one day spending the night on the moon no longer seems like pure fantasy, but a tangible project for the future.
