Christmas Mission: How and Why Military Defence Organisation Tracks Santa Claus

Every Christmas, NORAD, the organisation responsible for North America’s safety by tracking airplanes, missiles, space launches and anything else that takes to the skies, tracks Santa Claus. 

No, this is not a joke.

Millions of people – children and adults alike – eagerly follow Father Christmas on his festive journey around the globe. Next year, this lovely tradition will celebrate its 70th anniversary! Over the years, advances in technology have transformed this unique Christmas mission, making it a more immersive and realistic experience while introducing people to the wonders of space technology.

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One Mistake Shaped a Christmas Tradition for Generations

This annual heart-warming tradition started in 1955 accidentally, when a five year old child dialed the misprinted phone number from an advertisement in the local newspaper, believing he was calling Santa. The child reached a top-secret hotline of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), but a strict military man decided not to disappoint the kid. The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, instructed his staff to check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. That’s how the Christmas tradition of tracking Santa on his journey was born.

In 1958, The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) replaced CONAD and took over the mission of tracking Santa’s flight around the world, and they have been tracking Santa every year since.

More than 1,250 Canadian and American uniformed personnel and civilians volunteer their time on Christmas Eve to answer the thousands of phone calls and emails from all over the world. NORAD receives calls from around the world on Dec. 24 asking for Santa’s location. Children and adults also keep track of Santa’s location on the NORAD Tracks Santa® website and social media platforms.

The Technology That Powers the NORAD Santa Tracker

The NORAD Santa tracker relies on cutting-edge technologies and advanced space-based systems to create an immersive and believable experience:

Satellite Navigation Systems

Technologies like GPS (Global Positioning System) and similar satellite constellations provide real-time data on location and movement. In the Santa tracker, these systems simulate the sleigh’s progress across the globe, making it seem as if it’s being monitored from space. The satellites have infrared sensors, meaning they can see heat. When a rocket or missile is launched, a huge amount of heat is produced – and the satellites see it and report. It is said that Rudolph’s nose gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch. So, the satellites detect Rudolph’s bright red nose and there is not a problem tracking Santa.

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Radar Systems

NORAD radar system called the North Warning System is a powerful radar system with 47 installations located across Canada’s North and Alaska. This system is aimed to detect potential aerospace threats and is playfully repurposed for Santa tracking. Radar data is imagined as identifying Santa’s sleigh as he travels across various continents. 

Jet Fighters

To make the Santa tracking experience fuller and more interactive, NORAD team simulates using U.S. Air Force F-15, F-16, F-22 and Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter jets. On Christmas Eve, fighter pilots accompany Santa off the coast of Newfoundland to welcome him to North America. They escort him safely through North American airspace until he returns to the North Pole. So, Mrs. Santa, kids and adults all over the world receive real-time updates on Santa Claus and are sure that his Christmas mission is secure.

Making Space Accessible And Fun

In addition to being a lovely family tradition, tracking Santa offers numerous educational opportunities, particularly in sparking curiosity about space technologies, cosmos exploration, and Earth observation. By blending the magic of Christmas with real-world aerospace technologies, it provides an accessible and fun way to explore complex space concepts.

NORAD explains how its real-world systems, like radar and infrared sensors, can spot and track objects in the sky. Through this playful approach, children (and adults, why not?) can explore how GPS satellites work and enable real-time positioning. It makes people wonder about real-world applications, like monitoring climate change or navigating space missions.

The official NORAD Tracks Santa website includes interactive games and films about Santa and NORAD’s operations. Also, the mobile “NORAD Tracks Santa” app allows users to watch Santa’s progress in real time, making the Christmas experience even more immersive and enjoyable.

How to track Santa with Flight Radar 24?

Another popular option for tracking Santa Claus on his journey is Flight Radar 24. It is the most popular app for Santa online tracking. According to the platform, over 50,000 people are tracking Saint Nicholas’ travels on Christmas Eve.

The flight number for Santa is R3DN053, and the official code is SLEI. It will begin at the North Pole, go around the world, and end at the same pole. Flight Radar data shows that Santa’s ground speed was 2756 km/hr, and the sleigh, registered as HOHOHO, is currently flying at almost 60,000 feet.

About NORAD

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization which defends the homeland through aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning across North America. The organisation is monitoring human-made objects in space, detects and validates potential threats, and provides warnings of attacks against North America, whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles. NORAD’s headquarters are located at Peterson Space Force Base in El Paso County, near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

As you see, in addition to their vital role in protecting the skies over the United States and Canada, the dedicated personnel at NORAD also bring Christmas magic to families worldwide by tracking Santa Claus during his Christmas Eve mission to deliver presents to children.