The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is “tracking” Santa Claus’ yearly trip around the globe for its 55th year. According to their site, they use combination of “radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets” to monitor Claus’ route from the time he lifts off from the North Pole until he completes his mission.
NORAD explains:
On December 24th, NORAD monitors the radar systems continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left the North Pole.
The moment that radar indicates Santa has lifted off, we use our second detection system. Satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit at 22,300 miles from the Earth’s surface are equipped with infrared sensors, which enable them to detect heat. Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature, which allows our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.
They report having installed “Santa Cams” in 1998, when they first put their tracking program on the Internet and then, when Claus reaches the Western Hemisphere “Canadian NORAD fighter pilots flying the CF-18 intercept and welcome Santa to North America. In the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in either the F-15 or the F-16 get the thrill of flying alongside Santa and his famous reindeer.”
NORAD says the “Santa Tracker” program began in 1955, when a local Sears ad misprinted a number for children to call Santa, and the kids reached the Continental Air Defense Command’s hotline. While originally kids who called on Christmas Eve were given updates on Claus’ progress by Colonel Harry Shoup, CONAD’s Director of Operations, when CONAD became NORAD in 1958, the program became an all-volunteer effort.
