But the music conveys a Natural, fluid feel, suggesting that by using laws of Physics, Man's presence in space is Natural and relaxed. It conveys a sophistication of technology such that risks have been minimized, and that Life is Safe in Orbit. The technology is Grand, exceeding anything in reality, but is seen as everyday common experience. Later in the film, there are stunning scenes of stunning spacecraft, such as when Discovery is presented the first time enroute to Jupiter. Against this backdrop, observe the human interactions.
All conversation seems superficial, and almost trivial at times.
Laughter in the Lunar Meeting Room is almost forced, and this recurs in the Moonbus scenes. If Kubrick's intent was to show that development of Man is not keeping pace with his technology, then perhaps the point is well made. In the absence of music, the feel of Natural belonging is gone. When Bowman is in the EVA pod, the music is gone, replaced by sounds of the computer ranging distance back to Discovery, almost mimicking his heartbeat. Given the rapid advance of space technology in the early days, the level of sophistication illustrated by 2001 could have been achievable by now.