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NORAD NEWS
News | Dec. 19, 2001

Santa Tracking Test Deemed Success

By NORAD Public Affairs

NORAD Headquarters, Peterson AFB, Colo: North Pole and NORAD officials conducted a successful early morning Santa sleigh tracking test high in the Canadian Arctic before dawn today to ensure all systems are ready to track Santa on Christmas Eve.

"This comprehensive test included our network of satellite and radar systems and intensive analysis at our facilities in North Bay, Ontario and at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, Colorado," said Major-General Eric Findley, NORAD Director of Operations. "Tracking Santa is an honour for the men and women of NORAD. Not only does it help Santa, but it let's us do high-level validation of our sophisticated tracking equipment."

The Santa sleigh tracking test went off without a hitch. Rudolph's bright red nose emitted a phenomenal infrared signature that was easily picked up by NORAD's missile warning satellites. NORAD's ground-based radar successfully tracked the sleigh throughout the duration of the test. The test lasted seven minutes and all nine Reindeer were involved.

With "all systems go" at both NORAD and North Pole, children will be able to phone NORAD's operations center at Cheyenne Mountain at 719-474-2111 or visit the "NORAD Tracks Santa" Web site at www.noradsanta.org to view an online, interactive, super-cool progress report on Santa throughout Christmas Eve.

Media can pre-tape interviews about NORAD tracking Santa or pre-arrange Christmas Eve live interviews with NORAD personnel by calling 719-554-6889.