Rare behind-the-scenes photos from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in August 2015.

CNN  — 

Before “Interstellar” and “Avatar,” Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey” explored the possibilities of interplanetary travel and helped define and validate science fiction as a serious film genre.

“The Making of Stanley Kubrick’s ’2001: A Space Odyssey,” a coffee table book from Taschen, gives film buffs a behind-the-scenes look at the seminal film through on-set photos, concept art and photos of the director at work.

Check out the gallery above for some of the highlights.