While children worldwide excitedly anticipate Santa's Christmas visit, the military is prepared to monitor his activities and check for any utilization of new technology.
With radars, sensors, and aircraft at their disposal, the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado maintains vigilant surveillance of Santa and his sleigh from the instant he departs from the North Pole. They are once again prepared to disclose these particulars, enabling everyone to track Santa's global journey starting on Christmas Eve.
NORAD, the military authority tasked with safeguarding North American airspace, has unveiled its website, noradsanta.org, as well as social media platforms and a mobile application. These platforms are brimming with games, movies, books, and music for all to enjoy. Additionally, they feature a countdown clock indicating the commencement of the official sleigh tracking.
Here is a glimpse into the festive wonderland of NORAD's website.
1. NORAD- The Arcade Games
Play a new game every day. The website features a vast collection of arcade games for the kids to choose from and play.
2. NORAD- The Music Stage
Listen to Santa's favorite holiday songs. A list of selected holiday music has been curated by NORAD for the perfect festive spirit.
3. NORAD- The Library
Learn about Santa, his magic sleigh, and holiday traditions around the world. It is the one stop place to gain all the fun knowledge around Christmas and our favorite Santa Clauss.
4. NORAD- HQ
Learn about NORAD and their mission. Why is "We have the watch" their motto? How do they track Santa and protect North America? They also give answers to all the frequently asked questions. Read further to find the answers to some of them.
5. NORAD- Chat with Radar
You also get to talk to the radar and get an answer to all your queries at the NORAD Santa Tracker!
Equiped with the Santa Tracker countdown, the website also features sections like the 'Gift Shop' for custom Christmas apparel and 'The Theatre' to watch movies about Santa and NORAD.
What does NORAD use to track Santa?
The military will track Santa with, “the same technology we use every single day to keep North America safe,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Elizabeth Mathias, NORAD’s chief spokesperson. “We’re able to follow the light from Rudolph’s red nose.”
Mathias says that although NORAD possesses a good intelligence assessment of Santa's sleigh capabilities, Santa himself doesn't submit a flight plan. Furthermore, there's a possibility that he may have some cutting-edge tricks hidden beneath his red attire this year to aid in navigating his journey, potentially even incorporating artificial intelligence.
“I don’t know yet if he’s using AI,” said Mathias. “I’ll be curious to see if our assessment of his flight this year shows us some advanced capabilities.”
When did NORAD begin tracking Santa?
The tradition of tracking Santa's journey began in 1955 when Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, who was the commander on duty at the predecessor of NORAD, the Continental Air Defense Command, received a phone call from a child. The child had dialed a misprinted telephone number in a department store advertisement in a newspaper, believing she was reaching out to Santa.
A swift-thinker and alert Shoup promptly reassured the caller that he was Santa Claus. As more calls continued to come in, he designated a duty officer to respond to them, thus marking the beginning of this cherished tradition.
NORAD anticipates the participation of approximately 1,100 volunteers this year, who will assist in answering calls from a dedicated operations center situated at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. These volunteers will include personnel from various backgrounds, ranging from command staff to people from around the world.
“It’s a bit of a bucket list item for some folks,” says Mathias, calling the operations center “definitely the most festive place to be on December 24th.”
The operations center commences its activities at 4 a.m. MTS on Christmas Eve and remains operational until midnight. Anyone can dial 1-877 HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to engage in direct conversations with NORAD staff members who will furnish real-time updates on Santa's precise whereabouts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)- As Per The Official Website
How long has NORAD been tracking Santa?
NORAD's predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), began tracking Santa in 1955. NORAD replaced CONAD in 1958 and took over the mission of tracking Santa's flight around the world, and they have been tracking Santa every year since!
Why does NORAD track Santa?
Twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year, NORAD tracks airplanes, missiles, space launches and anything else that flies in or around the North American continent, while also completing some other very important missions. While the tradition of tracking Santa began purely by accident, NORAD continues to track Santa. We're the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications, and the people to do it. And, we love it! NORAD is honored to be Santa's official tracker!
When will Santa arrive at my house?
NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house. We do, however, know from history that it appears he arrives only when children are asleep! In most countries, it seems Santa arrives between 9:00 p.m. and midnight on December 24th. If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses. He returns later, but only when the children are asleep!
Where is Santa right now?
Santa is at the North Pole, where he lives with Mrs. Claus and the elves who make toys and take care of the reindeer year round! Each year on December 24th, Santa and his reindeer launch from the North Pole very early in the morning for their famous trip around the world. The minute they launch, NORAD starts to track him! Come back to this website on December 24th and you can track Santa along with NORAD!
For more of such cute FAQs, visit the NORAD Official Website.
