As children around the world eagerly await Santa’s arrival on Christmas, the military is closely tracking his every move. Armed with radar, sensors, aircraft, and Christmas spirit, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado is reporting on the movements of Santa’s sleigh since his takeoff from the North Pole for parts of the globe where Christmas comes first. Once again, it is sharing those details so kids can follow along.
NORAD has launched its noradsanta.org website, social media sites, and mobile app, loaded with games, movies, books, and music for kids to enjoy while tracking Santa’s journey. By late Christmas Eve in Thailand, late morning Sunday in the eastern US, the tracker reported that Santa had departed Bangkok and moved on to Burma, Tibet, China, and Russia, distributing nearly 2 billion gifts so far.
We’re able to follow the light from Rudolph’s red nose, said US Air Force Col. Elizabeth Mathias, NORAD’s chief spokesperson. We’re using the same technology we use every single day to keep North America safe.
While NORAD has a good intelligence assessment of Santa’s sleigh’s capabilities, Mathias mentioned that Santa does not file a flight plan and may have some high-tech secrets up his red sleeve this year to help guide his travels, possibly even artificial intelligence.
In 1955, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup received a call from a child who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a newspaper department store ad, thinking she was calling Santa, Mathias shared. A fast-thinking Shoup quickly told his caller he was Santa, and as more calls came in, he assigned a duty officer to keep answering. And the Santa-tracking tradition began.
NORAD expects around 1,100 volunteers to help answer calls this year in a dedicated operations center at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, ranging from command staff to people around the world. The operations center is open until midnight MST on Christmas Eve. Anyone can call 1-877 HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to talk directly to NORAD staff members who will provide updates on Santa’s exact location.
The military’s commitment to tracking Santa’s journey not only holds the attention of children worldwide but also spreads joy and excitement during the holiday season. So, this Christmas, children can rest easy knowing that Santa’s every move is being monitored by a dedicated team in Colorado, ensuring a memorable and magical experience for all.
