2010: The Year We Make Contact Quiz

Answer: It is losing orbit around IO.

Dr. Moisevitch has come to see Dr. Floyd at great risk. Russia and America are on the verge of war over disputed territories in Central America. But Moisevitch realises that he needs the Americans' knowledge of the failures of the first mission, so that it does not happen to the Russians. He bargains with Dr. Floyd to allow Americans to come along with them on the Leonov. And he knows something Dr. Floyd does not about the orbit of the Discovery. A mysterious force is pulling it towards Io and it will crash if something is not done.

Answer: Dr. Walter Curnow and Dr. R. Chandra

Veteran actors John Lithgow ("Harry and the Hendersons") and Bob Balaban ("Waiting for Guffman") play Drs. Walter Curnow and R. Chandra respectively. Curnow is responsible for designing and building the Discovery while Chandra is the brain behind Hal 9000.

They are imperative to a successful mission as the Discovery must be saved and Hal must be revived in order to know what went wrong nine years prior.

Answer: Dolphins

Dr. Floyd's home has a pool that comes right up to the dinner table and includes some very friendly dolphins. This scene also shows a nervous Heywood relaying the news to his wife about going on the Leonov mission. She breaks down, her wine glass drops into the sink and shatters.

Answer: Leonov

The look of the Leonov was the inspiration for the Omega destroyers in "Babylon 5". It was originally to be called the Titov but as Moisevitch mentions to Dr. Floyd at the radio arrays, Russian heroes often come in and out of favour.

Answer: Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren was awarded the Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen". As the Russian captain, her distaste for Americans being aboard and her own stubborness to reason leads to the death of Russian cosmonaut Maxim Brajlovsky.

Answer: Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is one of the basic components of plant life. The cameras on the space pod notice the chlorophyll as the pod is inexplicably shot into space by an unknown force. Speculation by the crew runs through the scientific possibilities while Dr. Floyd suggests that an alien force is keeping them away from Europa.

Answer: A piece of paper

This is a great part of the film. It lasts about five seconds but you'll always wonder what was on that piece of paper. The book is of no help either, as it is narrated in just the same way as the film. But I think it's better we don't know, because nothing could be as good as the suspense of not knowing, in this case.

Answer: Dr. Heywood Floyd

Heywood is most upset by this revelation, as he is lied to himself. Floyd is unaware that separate orders were given in the first Discovery mission, eventually leading to the crew lying to Hal and its subsequent murderous rampage.

Answer: Dave Bowman

Heywood's surprise is an understatement to say the least. He's not sure what Bowman is now, but takes his advice very seriously. During this sequence, Bowman changes into all the forms of the final scene in 2001 leading up to his mysterious transformation into the Star Child.

Heywood has his work cut out for him, as he must convince Kirbuk (Helen Mirren) that he is convinced that the 'ghost' of Bowman has told him to leave in two days, which is 'impossible.' However, some odd things are happening on Jupiter which prove that they all must leave.

Answer: Monoliths are multiplying and eating Jupiter

The monoliths multiply by the millions, in order to swallow up Jupiter and detonate its gas into a new star. After Chandra tells Hal the truth and that he will most likely be destroyed, the Leonov is in for a very bumpy ride as Jupiter violently explodes behind them.