The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the mission of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning in the defense of North America.
NORAD also tracks Santa’s progress around the world every December 24 through their program NORAD Tracks Santa that uses the latest technology, satellites, high-powered radar, jet fighters, and special Santa cameras.
History of NORAD Santa Tracker
The Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, CO first began tracking Santa on December 24, 1955. A young boy accidently dialed the unlisted NORAD phone number. He was trying to call Santa and dialed a mis-printed phone number from a department store advertisement in the local newspaper.
The operations center director was quick to realize a mistake had been made and assured the boy that CONAD would guarantee Santa a safe journey from the North Pole. A tradition was born!
The tradition rolled over to NORAD when it was formed in 1958. Each year since, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on December 24 for millions of children and families around the globe.
NORAD’s Santa Tracker
Listed below are ways to track Santa via NORAD.
- Track Santa from your desktop by going to www.noradsanta.org.
- Download a free app for your smartphone! Get NORAD for Android or NORAD for iApple. The apps are available in several languages.
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