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This Is How the U.S. Government ‘Tracks’ Santa Claus Every Year

Dec. 24, 2012 2:05pm
This Is How the Government, NORAD Tracks Santa Claus on Christmas

(Photo: NORAD Tracks Santa)

(TheBlaze/AP) — Volunteers at a Colorado Air Force base monitoring maps showing Santa Claus’ progress are only a few hours into their goodwill mission, but have already answered more than 7,000 phone calls from people asking about good St. Nick.

Phones are ringing nonstop at Peterson Air Force Base, headquarters of the North American Aerospace Command’s annual Santa-tracking operation.

Dozens of helpers at NORAD are taking calls and tracking Santa’s location on large projection screens, posting updates for more than 1 million Facebook fans and 107,000 Twitter followers.

The maps show Santa heading west, from Australia to the Middle East, eventually to North America. The volunteers will keep updating through 3 a.m. Mountain Time on Christmas morning.

The program began decades ago when a newspaper ad listed the wrong phone number for kids to call Santa. They wound up accidentally calling the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD’s predecessor, and a tradition was born.

The site elaborates:

The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline.” The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.  [Emphasis added]

But how does it work?  How can they “track” Santa Claus?

The NORAD site spins a wild story:

NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets.

Tracking Santa starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System…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…Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature, which allows our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.

The third tracking system is the Santa Cam network. We began using it in 1998, which is the year we put our Santa Tracking program on the internet. Santa Cams are ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many locations around the world. NORAD only uses these cameras once a year…

The fourth system is made up of fighter jets. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots flying the CF-18 fighter jets intercept and welcome Santa to North America. In the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in either the F-15, F-16 or the F-22 get the thrill of flying alongside Santa and his famous reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and, of course, Rudolph.  ​[Emphasis added]

According to the Associated Press, a little boy from Missouri phoned in to ask what time Santa delivered toys to heaven.  The boy’s mother got on the line to explain that his sister had died this year.

“I think Santa headed there first,” the NORAD volunteer told him.

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Related:

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Comments (17)

  • taintso
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:59pm

    News flash, Santa won’t be able to make it this year. Obama’s EPA has charged huge penalties and fines and reindeer flatulence tax. Santa’s job goes to China.

    Report this comment

    taintso  
  • taintso
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:37pm

    How come Rudolph hasn’t been pulled over for DUI that red nose is a a dead give-a-way?

    Report this comment

    taintso  
  • taintso
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:34pm

    Next year if the atheist and the socialist left have their way they will be able to track him by his ankle bracelet.

    Report this comment

    taintso  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:21pm

    I sure hope Santa has good encryption on his GPS least wise the same thing could happen to him as happened to our best and most secretive drone.

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • tckid17
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 6:02pm

    The Government could reimburse Santa 55 cents per mile because he is using his own sleigh.

    Report this comment

    tckid17  
  • breakobamanow
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 4:58pm

    I think this is good for the little children. I would hope that their parents are telling them about the Birth of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ would also excite them, and at least give them some truth when they get older and find out Santa isn’t real; but it was their parents that loved them; just as Christ loves us all and offers us the greatest free gift we could have ever hoped for. God bless you all and Merry Christmas!

    Report this comment

    breakobamanow  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 3:46pm

    They couldn’t track their Fast And Furious Gun Running SCHEME

    Report this comment

    South Philly Boy  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 3:28pm

    Traditions like that would never get off the ground in this time-line. They would be told to quit calling by a rude government worker, and if it was a child, the government worker would tell them Santa doesn’t exist.

    Report this comment

    Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • stereojoe
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 3:10pm

    Ugh, I’m sorry for sounding like a humbug, but these stories about using technology to “track Santa” are so stupid. Are kids even using these websites for entertainment? I’m also reading a headline titled “Great News from the FAA: Santa’s Trip will be Fuel-Efficient” and I just want to scream. IMHO, this stuff is just so dumb!

    Report this comment

    stereojoe  
  • SDAJumpmaster
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 3:04pm

    This is something I can say I am proud for my tax dollars to fund. It is very difficult to find any joy in life sometimes, but Santa always reminds me that Christmas is bigger than me and my problems. I will alwys cherish the picture of Santa worshipping at the manger; keeps it all in perspective.

    I have one kid left who believes (much to the chagrin and rolling eyes of her older siblings), and that special joy I get from playing the fat guy (although I am now there myself after retirment from the Army) for her makes it all worthwhile.

    Kudos, NORAD, RCAF, and USAF!

    Uh, by the way, it’s Donder, not Donner, according to the original printing of his name in “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore.

    Report this comment

    SDAJumpmaster  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on December 24, 2012 at 3:54pm

      My kids are all teenagers, now, no more trying to hide gifts or make-believe Santa is coming, but we still leave cookies and milk.
      Merry Christmas and thank you for your service!

      Report this comment

      Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • taintso
      Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:10pm

      @ anonymous In the ghetto they leave a hit of crack and a food stamp.

      Report this comment

      taintso  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 2:20pm

    Santa Claus isn’t a fat white guy,he’s a skinny Marxist mulatto who lives in DC periodically. He has a much better ride than Santa and he gives gifts all year long to.

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on December 24, 2012 at 2:17pm

    Does this cost us any money? If not, fine, all in good fun.

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  

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