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The synth-pop group NASA was on the verge of reaching an American audience when the rug was suddenly pulled from under them. Consisting of Patrik Henzel (vocals, noises) and Martin Thors (vocals, noises), NASA debuted in 1983, recording a song for a Swedish film. In 1985, NASA released their first single, "Paula," to Top Ten success in Sweden. The band then recorded the LP, Power of the Century, followed by a handful of hit singles. In 1987, Columbia Records sent NASA to the U.S. to record an album. Robert Margouleff was hired to produce the LP and Columbia wanted to change the group's name because of the tragedy involving the Space Shuttle Challenger. However, the man who signed NASA to Columbia left the label and his successor had no interest in the band. The LP was finished, but it was shelved by Columbia. In 1989, NASA released an album under the name Henzel & Thors in Sweden, but it was a commercial disappointment. In the late '90s, NASA were asked to compile their most popular '80s tracks for the Swedish label Memento Materia. When the label requested a new song from the band, NASA decided to record a full-length album. In 1999, NASA released their first album in more than a decade, Remembering the Future; it was licensed for U.S. release by Ninthwave Records in 2000. ~ Michael Sutton, Rovi

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