NEW ORLEANS, La. - The University of New Orleans received $306,216 from the Department of Defense to buy equipment that features a welding technique that has been used on the space shuttle's external tank. The equipment will be used on ships. Known as friction stir welding, the technique has been used at UNO's National Center for Advanced Manufacturing since 2002. (Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune, 08/22/11)