In reality the country was far from asleep, even on the scientific and astronautical fronts.
That over, the astronauts flew to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where each was solemnly awarded a newly created honorary degree a doctorate of astronautical science.
NASA Announces Space Station Research and Development Conference The American Astronautical Society, in cooperation with NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), will conduct the second annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference July 16-18 in Denver.
July 5, 2013 - NASA