by Playfuls Staff |
23rd December 2006
Despite being pounded by the Holiday Blizzard of 2006,
North American Aerospace Defense Command remains on alert for the nation and
ready to track Santa Claus, according to NORAD officials. “NORAD [more] Tracks
Santa Operations Center is schedule to begin operations as scheduled at 2 a.m.
Christmas Eve,” said Michael Perini, Director of NORAD and U.S. Northern
Command Public Affairs.
More than 800 Santa tracking volunteers will cycle through
the center answering telephone calls and e-mails from children around the world
wanting to get a fix on Santa Claus’ whereabouts.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command annually
"tracks" the flight of Santa Claus and associated reindeer across the
skies on Christmas Eve, posting sighting data and imagery of the icon on its
website.
The NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, http://www.noradsanta.org, went live Nov.
17 and has already garnered an amazing 48,695,357 page views. Last year the site received 907,958,865 page
views from 204 countries and territories around the world.
Beginning at 2:00 a.m. MST on December 24, the Web site
will provide minute-by-minute updates on Santa’s journey around the world.
NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa - radar,
satellites, Santa Cams and jet fighter aircraft.
Detecting Santa all starts with the NORAD radar system
called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system has 47
installations strung across the northern border of North
America. NORAD makes a point of checking the radar closely for
indications of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole on Christmas Eve
The moment the radars indicate that Santa has lifted off, NORAD
use the second mode of detection: the same satellites NORAD use in providing
warning of possible missile launches aimed at North
America.
The satellites have infrared sensors, meaning they can
detect heat. When a rocket or missile is launched, a tremendous amount of heat
is produced - enough for the satellites to detect. Rudolph's nose gives off an
infrared signature similar to a missile launch. The satellites can detect
Rudolph's bright red nose with practically no problem.
NORAD Santa Cams are ultra-cool high-tech high-speed
digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many places around the world. NORAD
only uses these cameras once a year - Christmas Eve. The cameras capture images
of Santa and the Reindeer as they make their journey around the world. Santa
Cams produce both video and still images.
The fourth detection system NORAD use is the NORAD jet
fighter. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots, flying the CF-18, take off out of Newfoundland to intercept and welcome Santa to North America. Then at numerous locations in Canada
other CF-18 fighter pilots escort Santa.
NORAD is no longer the only game in town for Santa who,
NGA claims, came to them for help. After being
overwhelmed by a growing world demand, Santa approached NGA earlier this year
and asked for help to streamline his Christmas Eve deliveries. “I need routes that
will let me move around the world quickly and efficiently,” he said, according
to NGA.
NGA combined satellite imagery with its map and chart making expertise
to develop a digital navigation system that solved Santa’s problem. Called NGA
TOY DELIVERY SYSTEM X-100, this specialized geospatial-intelligence product was
specifically formatted to let Santa create quick and easy routes around the
globe. Santa installed a new satellite downlink and computer system to handle
the NGA data. “I can really scoot around the world using this new navigation
system,” Santa said. “The time I can save by taking the best routes will let me
reach everyone on my list.”
To view the NGA TOY DELIVERY SYSTEM X-100 and see
how it is used by its revered customer, please go to www.nga.mil. To watch
Santa determine his route, go to NGA.mil. Using the data to plan surface-to-air
intercepts will result in being left off his list.
