COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – For the 70th consecutive year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is utilizing its full military arsenal to monitor a very special mission: Santa Claus’s reindeer-powered flight across the globe.
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Despite being the world’s premier air defense authority, NORAD officials admit they have zero “intel” on Santa’s specific flight path. Because the “jolly old elf” is not required to file a formal flight plan, his exact route remains a mystery until he takes off.
“NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route,” a senior official stated. “We can confirm he departs from the North Pole every Christmas Eve, but we cannot predict exactly when he will arrive at any specific home.”
From a Cold War Error to a Global Tradition
The tradition, which dates back to 1955, began not with a military order, but with a newspaper misprint. A Colorado Springs department store accidentally listed the secret hotline for the Continental Air Defense Command (NORAD’s predecessor) as a “Call Santa” number.
When the first child called, Colonel Harry Shoup—an officer on duty during the height of the Cold War—chose to play along. He instructed his team to check the radar for signs of Santa, establishing a legacy of holiday spirit that has lasted seven decades.
How the Military Tracks the Sleigh
NORAD uses a sophisticated, multi-layered system to monitor the journey:
- Polar Radar: Detecting the initial liftoff from the North Pole.
- Infrared Satellites: Specifically tuned to detect the heat signature from Rudolph’s red nose, which emits a signal similar to a missile launch.
- Fighter Escorts: U.S. and Canadian pilots often fly alongside the sleigh to ensure Santa’s safe passage.
A High-Level Watch
The tracking effort has long caught the attention of world leaders. Most recently, the President was seen monitoring the tracker from his Mar-a-Lago residence. While speaking with children, he noted Santa’s progress through Europe and jokingly framed the tracking mission as a matter of national security, ensuring that only the “real” Santa makes it into the country.
