How Does NORAD Track Santa? (REPOST)

tracking santa

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

It all starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system has 47 installations strung across Canada's North and Alaska. NORAD makes a point of checking the radar closely for indications of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

santa tracking

The moment our radar tells us that Santa has lifted off, we begin to use the same satellites that we use in providing warning of possible missile launches aimed at North America. These satellites are located in a geo-synchronous orbit (that's a cool phrase meaning that the satellite is always fixed over the same spot on the Earth) at 22,300 miles above the Earth. The satellites have infrared sensors, meaning they can see heat.

When a rocket or missile is launched, a tremendous amount of heat is produced - enough for the satellites to see them. Rudolph's nose gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch. The satellites can detect Rudolph's bright red nose with practically no problem. With so many years of experience, NORAD has become good at tracking aircraft entering North America, detecting worldwide missile launches and tracking the progress of Santa, thanks to Rudolph. It is important to note, however, that our scientists have tried to determine the chemical process that occurs that creates the heat that is generated by Rudolph's nose but they have not been able to thus far.

The third system we use is the Santa Cam. We began using it in 1998 - the year we put our Santa Tracking program on the Internet. NORAD Santa Cams are ultra-cool high-tech high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many places around the world. NORAD only uses these cameras once a year - Christmas Eve. We turn the cameras on about one hour before Santa enters a country then switch them off after we capture images of him and the Reindeer. We immediately download the images on to our web site for people around the world see. Santa Cams produce both video and still images.

The last system we use is the NORAD jet fighter. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots, flying the CF-18, take off out of Newfoundland to intercept and welcome Santa to North America. Then at numerous locations in Canada other CF-18 fighter pilots escort Santa, while in the United States American NORAD fighter pilots in either the F-15 or F-16 get the thrill of flying with Santa and the famous Reindeer Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. About a dozen NORAD fighters in Canada and the United States are equipped with Santa Cams complete list of santa cams world wide

more at Santa Claus or Christmas

Related: Keyword Christmas, Thursday, December 08, 2005 A Very Beazley Christmas (VIDEO), Saturday, November 20, 2004 Remarks by the First Lady, Saturday, November 20, 2004 Fact Sheet: White House Holiday Decorations, Monday, November 29, 2004 Laura Bush White House Christmas tree, Thursday, December 02, 2004 White House 2004 Holiday christmas, Friday, December 03, 2004 National Christmas Tree, Friday, December 24, 2004 Presidential Christmas Message, 2004, Saturday, December 25, 2004 How Does NORAD Track Santa?, Saturday, December 25, 2004 barney whitehouse christmas,

Kris Kringle Signs Open Skies Agreement

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta And North Pole’s Kris Kringle Sign Open Skies Agreement

Agreement Gives Santa Greater Access to Rooftops of Good Kids Everywhere

Just in time for Christmas, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta and the North Pole’s Kris Kringle, a.k.a. Santa Claus, signed an Open Skies aviation agreement in Washington, D.C. today, giving Santa and his team of reindeer greater access to the rooftops of good kids everywhere.

For years, Santa had been required to make an annual request to the Secretary of Transportation for a special flight certificate in order to deliver his Christmas goodies. With this new agreement, it will be easier for Santa to finish his job all in one night.

“Santa can now focus on making his list and checking it twice, without the hassle of government paperwork,” said Secretary Mineta. “Thanks to this agreement, the only time he needs to worry about Red Tape is if he wants to use it to wrap presents.”

The Open Skies agreement signed by Secretary Mineta and Santa Claus noted Santa’s safe and efficient toy delivery operation that enables him to bring joy to millions of children in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and all U.S. territories, all without impact to air traffic carrying travelers to their holiday destinations.

“Now it’s just HO HO HO and off I go,” exclaimed the Jolly Old Elf. “The reindeer and I look forward to checking this item off of our list for good,” he said.

Mineta said the decision was helped by a flood of public comments offered by Santa advocates from all over the nation. Thousands of letters were sent to the Department of Transportation and to the North Pole encouraging each party to complete these important negotiations before Santa’s yearly trip, he said.

“Santa’s Elves are tough negotiators,” Mineta noted. “But, in the end, we were able to arrive at an agreement that will benefit children of all ages.”

### DOT 184-05, Wednesday, December 21, 2005, Contact: Brian Turmail, Tel.: (202) 366-4570

more at Santa Claus or Christmas

Related: Keyword Christmas, Thursday, December 08, 2005 A Very Beazley Christmas (VIDEO), Saturday, November 20, 2004 Remarks by the First Lady, Saturday, November 20, 2004 Fact Sheet: White House Holiday Decorations, Monday, November 29, 2004 Laura Bush White House Christmas tree, Thursday, December 02, 2004 White House 2004 Holiday christmas, Friday, December 03, 2004 National Christmas Tree, Friday, December 24, 2004 Presidential Christmas Message, 2004, Saturday, December 25, 2004 How Does NORAD Track Santa?, Saturday, December 25, 2004 barney whitehouse christmas,