Look at the story that unfolded when an American spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union and the effects on the Cold War. We will cover: The U2 Incident The subsequent attempted cover-up by the United States The geopolitical crisis that emerged The development of a newer spy plane; the SR-71 (copy)

U-2 Spy Plane Incident

The May 1, 1960, flight of the U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers, which was shot down while flying at 70,000 ft.

Altitude of U-2 Flight

The U-2 spy plane flew at an altitude of 70,000\,ft.

Soviet Missile

The type of missile that caused the crash of the U-2 flight.

Self-Destruction Protocol

A protocol that failed during the U-2 incident; Powers survived along with the spy equipment.

Weather Research Cover Story

The explanation crafted by the U.S. government to cover up the U-2 incident.

Eisenhower Administration

The U.S. government faced public embarrassment after the U-2 incident was exposed.

Collapse of Paris Summit

The U-2 incident led to the failure of the summit meeting between Eisenhower and Khrushchev.

Nuclear Disarmament Halted

The U-2 incident escalated Cold War tensions and stopped progress toward disarmament.

Prisoner Exchange

The eventual exchange involving Francis Gary Powers following the U-2 incident.

SR-71 Blackbird

A faster, more resilient surveillance technology that emerged after the U-2 incident.

Flying Speed of SR-71

The SR-71 could reach speeds of Mach\,3.3.

Titanium Construction

The specialized material used in the construction of the SR-71 for resilience and speed.

Shift to Satellite Technology

A move from manned flights for intelligence gathering to using satellites.