Parting Shot: Warren Ellis Weighs in on Newt Gingrich’s Moon Base

Comics writer Warren Ellis has long been a proponent of the space program, even going so far as to compare off-world travel as a critical Noah's ark for humanity: "The single simplest reason why human space flight is necessary is this, stated as plainly as possible: keeping all your breeding pairs in one place is a retarded way to run a species," which is a rather progressive thought marred slightly by a decidedly unprogressive slur.

Now, Ellis has reacted with skepticism to the Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's promise to build a moon base despite its seemingly pro-space travel message, and suggested that Gingrich's ideas are impractical, and most shocking of all, politically motivated. Read more about Ellis's thoughts on moon sovereignty, space tourism, and orbital death rays at Vice magazine.