For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the
Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s
flight. According to NORAD, it uses four high-tech systems to
track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa cams and fighter jets.
Tracking Santa starts with the NORAD radar system called the
North Warning System. On December 24th, NORAD monitors the radar
systems continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left
the North Pole. The moment that radar indicates Santa has lifted
off, satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit pick up his
trail. Satellites are able to detect infrared heat. Amazingly,
Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature. The
third tracking system is the Santa cam network. NORAD began
using it in 1998, which is the year it put our Santa Tracking
program on the internet. The fourth system is made up of fighter
jets. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots flying the CF-18 intercept
and welcome Santa to North America. Once data is collected on
December 24th, it is plotted