— by Lin McNulty —
NORAD’s Mission: “We have the watch.”
For more than 60 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight.
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.
In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America. Aerospace warning includes the monitoring of man-made objects in space, and the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands.
The NORAD Tracks Santa® (NTS) Program has been around for a long time. And while NORAD has the history and the necessary technology to track Santa, the NTS program spends only minimal government funds. The NTS Program is funded through generous corporate donors. Everything from computer servers, web site design, video imaging, Santa’s tracking map, and telephone services are donated.
To visit the fun, interactive website, click HERE.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Thanks for the info! I will definitely track Santa’s progress this year! Merry Christmas! Spirit Eagle
I track Santa with NORAD every year and am always excited when he approaches Orcas Island!
And Santa heeds NORAD’s FAA NOTAM (Notice to airmen), that the speed limit on Orcas is 35, and he gently comes back on Rudolph’s reins.
Donner and Blitzin are very appreciative of our
‘Deer Crossing’ signs.
They help point the way to the next red-brick roof-top chimney,
with gifts for the children below . . . .