NORAD’s Santa Tracker: The 70-Year Christmas Eve Mission Revealed

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, has an unusual annual duty. It tracks Santa Claus every Christmas Eve. This tradition brings joy to millions globally. It started seventy years ago by pure accident.According to NORAD, the mission begins early each December 24. Uniformed personnel and volunteers staff a special operations center. They use military-grade satellites and radar systems. Their goal is simple: follow Santa’s sleigh in real-time.Families can watch the journey online. NORAD provides a live map on its official website. Updates are also posted on major social media platforms. The coverage is available in nine different languages for worldwide access.Santa’s route typically starts in the South Pacific. He then moves through New Zealand and Australia. After that, he travels across Asia, Africa, and Europe. His final stops are in the Americas.The route is never exactly the same each year. NORAD experts note it can be unpredictable. The tracker provides a general path, not an exact minute-by-minute schedule for every home.

How Families Can Follow the Festive Flight

Many parents and children have the same question. They want to know when Santa will arrive. NORAD has a clear answer based on historical data.Santa usually delivers presents between 9 p.m. and midnight local time. He only arrives when children are sound asleep. The tracker cannot pinpoint an exact time for your specific house.There are two main ways to get updates. The first is the digital tracker on NORAD’s website. The second is a special telephone hotline. Last year, volunteers answered over 380,000 calls on Christmas Eve.The phone number is 1-877-HI-NORAD. The line opens at 4 a.m. Mountain Time. It stays open until midnight. Callers hear a live update from a cheerful volunteer.This service is entirely free. It is funded by corporate sponsors and run by dedicated volunteers. The program has become a beloved holiday institution. It perfectly blends military precision with festive magic.

A Tradition Born from a Happy Mistake

The entire operation began in 1955. A Colorado newspaper ad misprinted a phone number for children to call Santa. The number connected to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) operations center.The colonel on duty played along. He gave the child a current location for Santa’s sleigh. This charming mistake sparked a yearly tradition. NORAD continued it when it was formed in 1958.Today, it is a massive global operation. It showcases NORAD’s capabilities in a friendly, public-facing way. The program connects the military with communities in a unique and heartwarming fashion.

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The NORAD Santa Tracker remains a powerful symbol of holiday cheer. It turns advanced aerospace defense technology into a source of global wonder. This 70-year mission continues to create precious Christmas memories for families everywhere.