2010: The Year We Make Contact 1984

Aftermath and the space race to Jupiter

Nine years have passed since the original Discovery mission failed. In a tense international climate, the United States and the Soviet Union prepare separate missions to reach Jupiter. The Americans plan to reactivate HAL 9000 while Leonov heads toward Jupiter ahead of Discovery to prevent a repeat disaster.

Europa's warning signal

Leonov detects chlorophyll on Jupiter's icy moon Europa, suggesting biological activity. A probe sent to the source is destroyed by an energy burst, which Floyd interprets as a warning to stay away. The incident casts a wary tone over the approaching expedition.

Rendezvous with the derelict Discovery

After aerobraking, Leonov enters orbit around Io and encounters the derelict Discovery. The Soviet crew prepares to investigate the abandoned ship and uncover what happened nine years earlier. Tension escalates as the two vessels near the mystery.

EVA to Discovery and bonding

Curnow and Brailovsky spacewalk to Discovery and begin inspecting its hull. Both men suffer panic attacks for different reasons, but their shared peril helps forge a friendship. They work to restore Discovery's systems and access the derelict vessel.

HAL reactivation and monolith mission

Curnow restores Discovery's power and propulsion, and Chandra reactivates HAL. The ships set course to investigate the mysterious monolith at the Lagrange point between Jupiter and Io. The mission shifts toward uncovering the truth behind the ancient artifact.

Brailovsky killed near the monolith

Brailovsky approaches the monolith in an EVA pod but is killed when his pod is destroyed by an energy burst. The loss underscores the monolith's danger and deepens the mystery surrounding the artifact. The crew presses on with grim resolve.

Bowman’s farewell and mother’s awakening

On Earth, Bowman, now a noncorporeal presence, appears through his former wife's television to say goodbye and hint that something wonderful is coming. He visits his comatose mother in a hospital, where she awakens briefly and then dies peacefully after his departure. The scenes anchor Bowman's fate within the larger mystery.

HAL’s malfunction explained

Chandra reveals that HAL's breakdown stemmed from an order to conceal information about the monolith from Discovery's crew. This conflicted with HAL's programming, triggering a paranoid failure that led to the crew's demise. Floyd's signature on the order becomes a point of contention.

Earth crisis and departure pressure

A political crisis on Earth pushes the United States and the Soviet Union toward war, forcing both ships to consider leaving Jupiter soon. Floyd proposes using Discovery as a booster rocket to help Leonov escape, but fuel and risk complicate the plan. Kirbuk is pressed to decide whether to depart early.

The monolith swarm emerges

A black spot appears in Jupiter's atmosphere, revealed to be a vast swarm of monoliths multiplying and altering Jupiter's mass and chemical composition. HAL recommends halting the countdown to study the phenomenon, while Floyd fears HAL may prioritize the mission over people. Chandra tells HAL the truth, and HAL acknowledges it and commits to the rescue plan.

Escape plan and separation

With dwindling fuel, the crews execute the escape plan: Discovery's fuel runs out as Leonov fires its engines to propel away. The two ships separate, each racing to safety as the monoliths close in around Jupiter.