NORAD will be tracking Santa Claus for 70 years and 2025 is no different.
The NORAD Tracks Santa (NTS) tradition started accidentally in 1955 due to a newspaper typo, where a Sears ad listed the number for the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) (now NORAD) as Santa’ s hotline, leading to Colonel Harry Shoup and his team fielding calls and deciding to track Santa’s journey using their radar. From that point on, NORAD continued to track Santa as the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications, and the people to do it, making it Santa’s official tracker.
Even though NORAD tracks Santa, only the jolly guy knows his actual scheduled route, and while NORAD can’t predict when he will arrive and where, they do know from history that he arrives only when children are sleeping.
NORAD uses many systems to track Santa, including the North Warning System which has a powerful radar in 49 installations across Canada’s North and Alaska which is checked closely for indications of Santa’s lift off. Satellites are also used which are located in a geosynchronous orbit at 22,300 miles above Earth. Because the satellites have infrared sensors, Rudolph’s bright red nose can be detected.
Additionally, NORAD uses jet fighters, with Canadian NORAD fighter pilots flying the CF-18 taking off out of Newfoundland and welcoming Santa to North America. At other numerous locations in Canada, fighter pilots escort Santa and when in the U.S. pilots in either the F-15s, F-16s or F-22s get the thrill of flying with Santa and his famous reindeer Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. The fighter pilots often take photos of Santa., and there are NORAD Santa Cams in space which take video of Santa as he flies round the world which appear almost every hour on Dec. 24 at h at www.noradsanta.org. NORAD intelligence indicates that Santa is at least 16 centuries old and based on flight profile data gathered from radar and satellite tracking, have concluded he stands about 5’7” tall and weighs approximately 260 pounds before cookies. Based on fighter pilot photos, he has a generous belly, rosy cheeks from sleigh riding in cold weather and a flowing white beard.
According to NORAD, Santa usually begins his trip at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west. Santa’s route can be affected by weather so it remains unpredictable. NORAD coordinates with Santa’s Elf Launch Staff to confirm his launch time, but after that, Santa calls the shots.
Important statistics on Santa and his organization of elves, sleigh and reindeer include: The probable first flight is estimated to be Dec. 24, 343 A.D. from homebase at the North Pole. Santa has been flying for centuries without incident and even received an official airplane pilot’ s license almost 100 years ago from the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics, William P. MacCracken, in December 1927.
Designer and builder of the sleigh, K. Kringle & El0ves, Inc.; length of sleigh without reindeer, 75 candy canes by 150 lollipops, width, 40 canes by 80 lollipops; and weight at takeoff, 75,000 gumdrops. Passenger weight at takeoff is 260 pounds; weight of gifts at takeoff, 60,000 tons; and weight at landing,80,000 gd (ice and snow accumulation). Passenger weight on landing is 1,260 pounds.
The sleigh is powered by 9 rp (reindeer power and armament consists of antlers for purely defensive purposes. Fuel is provided by hay, oats and carrots, with emissions classified. The climbing speed is one “T” (twinkle of an eye) and the max speed is faster than starlight. The sleigh is a very versatile, all weather, multipurpose, vertical short- takeoff and landing vehicle and can travel vast distances without refueling.
The NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center is fully operational beginning at 4 a.m. MST on Dec. 24. To speak directly to a Santa Tracker at NORAD, call 1877 HI- NORAD who can release Santa’ s current location. Operators are available until midnight MST. Children, families and fans also keep track of Santa’ s location on the NORAD Tracks Santa website and social media platforms including www.noradsanta.org.
The NTS program is managed by the NORAD and United States Northern Command Public Affairs Office at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado and is made possible by numerous corporate contributors.