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)

Discussion of the May 1, 1960, flight of the U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
Technical details regarding the flight altitude of 70,000\,ft and the Soviet surface-to-air missile that caused the crash.
The failed self-destruction protocol and the survival of the pilot and spy equipment.

Exploration of the 'weather research' cover story created by the U.S. government to explain the missing plane.
The realization that the Soviet Union had captured the pilot alive and possessed proof of espionage.
The public embarrassment of the Eisenhower administration following the exposure of the lie.

The collapse of the Paris Summit between Eisenhower and Khrushchev.
How the incident halted progress toward nuclear disarmament and escalated Cold War tensions.
The eventual prisoner exchange involving Francis Gary Powers.

The move toward faster, more resilient surveillance technology.
Technical specifications of the SR-71, including speeds of Mach\,3.3 and its specialized titanium construction.
The shift in intelligence gathering from manned flights to satellite technology.