Starfleet Records. James T. Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701. Mission: To help the Earth. Stardate: Unknown (2268). Date: 1968 "Captain's log. Using the light-speed breakaway factor, the Enterprise has moved back through time to the 20th century. We are now in extended orbit around Earth, using our ship's deflector shields to remain unobserved. Our mission – historical research. We are monitoring Earth communications to find out how our planet survived desperate problems in the year

The U-2 spy plane had successful, albeit challenging, carrier tests on the USS Ranger (CVA-61) in March 1964, with pilot Bob Schumacher performing landings and takeoffs, proving the concept for carrier-based U-2G variants, despite an initial nose-down pitch incident that broke the pitot tube. These trials led to a single operational mission, Operation Seeker, monitoring French nuclear tests, confirming the U-2's capability for maritime surveillance, though satellites eventually made it less rele