A team from the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) is in Botswana to prepare for and track the launch the Mars Exploration Rover A (MER-A). The launch will be tracked from a Botswana Defence Force (BDF) base in Shakawe as it provides an optimum opportunity for perfect line of sight to track MER-A. MER-A is expected to travel over Shakawe for about 15 minutes but will not be visible to people on the ground without the aid of strong telescopes.