In January 2026, a US-based startup called Galactic Resource Utilization (GRU) Space officially began accepting reservations for what it claims will be the first permanent alien structure built in history.
One of the intriguing aspects of the new venture is that the company is offering selected candidates the opportunity to make a down payment of $250,000 or $1 million, depending on the experience they choose.
Currently the project is in the early stages of testing; no physical structure has been assembled on the moon and the long-term viability of settlements remains unproven. The company markets the experience to wealthy tourists, frequent space travelers and couples looking for a dream gateway. GRU further plans to gradually expand the site into a permanent lunar hotel for up to ten guests, with even more ambitious plans to build a similar facility on Mars.
The recent announcement comes amid US President Trump’s pledge to plant a flag on Mars by 2028, as tech billionaires push for private involvement beyond low Earth orbit.
In contrast, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has expressed support for Orbital Reef – a proposed space station intended to orbit Earth in a manner similar to the International Space Station – emphasizing tourism, research and commercial use.
Nevertheless, this initiative marks a significant shift in the space industry from state-owned research to high-quality commercial infrastructure. It signals the transition from science fiction to a tangible, elitist and expensive business model.
Meanwhile, an American aerospace company, Above: Space Development, is also competing to launch the world’s first space hotel as early as 2027.
