Venture capitalist Alan Walton, one of the first to sign up for a ride to the edge of space on a Virgin Galactic ship, has given up on his dream. After waiting for seven years, the 75-year-old asked for a $200,000 ticket refund, the Associated Press reported.

“This was a decision I wish I didn’t have to make,” he said. But “it was time.”

The promise of space tourism generated excitement in 2004 after the experimental SpaceShipOne completed the first manned, private spaceflight. Virgin Galactic’s Sir Richard Branson predicted a maiden passenger flight would take off in 2007. But while progress has been made, there is still no launch date for the company’s 450 ticket-holders.

 

READ IT AT: [The Miami Herald]