Reservations For The First Hotel On The Moon Are Live But Proceed With Caution
Space tourism has officially reached a new level of ambition with a proposal that sounds like it was ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel. A California startup is making headlines by offering the public a chance to reserve a room in what they claim will be the first hotel on the Moon. This announcement has generated a mix of excitement and skepticism within the aerospace community. While the barrier to entry might seem surprisingly low at first glance, the reality of the offer involves significant financial risk and technological hurdles.
The company behind this audacious project is Galactic Resource Utilization Space, also known as GRU Space. It is led by twenty-one-year-old Skyler Chan who is a recent graduate of the University of California Berkeley. Chan has an impressive resume that includes working on software for Tesla and helping to send a 3D printer to the International Space Station. He believes that we are at a pivotal moment where humanity can become interplanetary within our lifetimes.
According to the company’s white paper, the roadmap to a lunar resort involves several aggressive milestones over the next decade. They plan to land a test payload on the lunar surface by 2029 to demonstrate their building technologies. The next phase involves deploying a habitat into a lunar pit for radiation shielding by 2031. If all goes according to this optimistic schedule, the first guests could be checking into the hotel as early as 2032.
The proposed accommodation will not be a traditional building constructed of concrete and steel like hotels on Earth. The initial structure is described as an inflatable module that will be manufactured here and transported to the Moon. Guests would ostensibly enjoy breathtaking views of the lunar landscape and the Earth while experiencing low-gravity living. The company even teases recreational activities such as lunar golf and moonwalking for the ultra-wealthy tourists.
Securing a spot on this futuristic itinerary requires a non-refundable application fee of one thousand dollars. This relatively small sum is merely the first step in a much more expensive process for those who are actually selected. Successful applicants will need to put down a refundable deposit ranging from a quarter of a million to one million dollars. The total cost for the trip and stay is estimated to eventually exceed ten million dollars per person.
Prospective customers should be aware that this project relies heavily on launch vehicles that are not yet regularly operational. The business model depends on the success of heavy-lift rockets like the SpaceX ‘Starship’ to ferry materials and passengers. There are also virtually no international laws currently governing property rights or commercial liability for tourists on the Moon. These factors make the 2032 deadline appear incredibly tight and perhaps unrealistic to industry observers.
Many financial experts would advise against paying non-refundable fees for a venture that is still in the conceptual phase. The history of space startups is filled with companies that promised the stars but failed to get off the ground. While the dream of vacationing on the Moon is captivating, the technology required to keep tourists safe and comfortable there is still in its infancy. It might be wiser to keep your money in your bank account until there is physical proof of a habitat.
We want to know if you would risk your money on a lunar reservation like this so let us know your thoughts in the comments.
