How NORAD Tracks Santa’s Sleigh

The command keeps tabs on St. Nick’s Christmas Eve movements by using a webbed network of satellites, heat-seeking sensors and, of course, fighter jets.

Kimberly Johnson

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 12:31 PM ET

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Santa Claus reviews his flight plan for his trek across the globe in the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command Current Operations Center. [Courtesy: NORAD]

Key Takeaways:

NORAD employs a sophisticated system utilizing the North Warning System radar, geo-synchronous satellites with infrared sensors, and fighter jets to track Santa's global journey.
The tradition originated in 1955 when a child mistakenly called CONAD (NORAD's predecessor) and the commander on duty began to play along.
What started as phone-based tracking has evolved into a global online, social media, and mobile app program, demonstrating NORAD's year-round continental defense capabilities.

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It won’t be long before everyone’s favorite jolly old elf takes to the skies on his annual spree of gift giving for children around the world. And while Santa has filed the same basic flight plan for hundreds of years, technological advancements in communications and military surveillance mean it’s easier than ever to keep tabs on his movements in real time.

This year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will put a lock on Santa, relying on a globally integrated network of satellites in a geo-synchronous orbit outfitted with infrared, heat-seeking sensors.