A NASA space probe that's expected to collect a sample of an asteroid and return it to earth has its roots at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
The OSIRIS-REx probe should launch next month and make its way to 101955 Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, by 2019. There, if all goes as planned, it'll extend a robotic arm to collect a sample of up to 4.4 pounds from the asteroid before returning to Earth in 2023.
KJZZ reported earlier this month that the spacecraft, whose mission is being led by a UA scientist, is undergoing final touches at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Additionally, on board the probe are three cameras built at the university. They'll help the craft find the asteroid, enter orbit around it and pick out a good place to retrieve the sample.
Having a sample of the asteroid will help scientists learn about the history and formation of the solar system, as well as how to redirect or destroy the asteroid if it comes toward Earth. Current data suggests there's a tiny chance of 101955 Bennu hitting Earth in the late 2100s, though further study of the asteroid is hoped to make that possibility a bit more clear as well.
If you'd like to stay up to date on the OSIRIS-REx mission, you're in luck: The probe, like many other NASA projects, has its own Twitter feed.