NORAD Headquarters, Peterson AFB, Colo: On Christmas Eve the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a bi-national command of Canadian and U.S. military forces, will once again track Santa Claus on his Yuletide trip. Using data obtained from a worldwide network of radar and satellites in space, and with the help of over 100 volunteers, NORAD will continue its 47-year tradition of reporting on Santa's progress to millions of children around the world.
To receive an update on Santa's Christmas Eve journey, children may call the traditional "NORAD Tracks Santa" telephone hotline at (719) 474-2111. The hotline is available beginning 7 a.m. MST on Dec 24 through 2 a.m. MST on Dec 25.
Children may also visit the "NORAD Tracks Santa" Web site at www.noradsanta.org to view an online, interactive progress report.
Starting today, visitors can go to the Web site and view unclassified information about Santa that NORAD experts have collected over the years. Examples of NORAD intelligence available at the Web site include: what snacks Santa and his Reindeer enjoy to eat; how he visits so many homes in one night; and even how NORAD's satellites home in on Rudolph's red nose.
Then, as Santa begins his journey on Dec 24, NORAD will track his progress and provide near real-time updates to children around the world. Santa has communicated to NORAD that he intends to begin his journey at 5 a.m. MST, Dec 24. At that time, NORAD's tracking data will be translated into streaming audio and video updates and posted to the Web site's radar map. The site is available in French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
NORAD's partners in tracking Santa include: AOL Communications in Dulles, VA (contact Melissa Stirling at 703-265-3419);Analytical Graphics Inc. in Malvern, PA (contact Joanne Welsh at 610-578-1000); Globelink International Services of Colorado Springs, CO (contact Fadia Farrell at 719-532-0300); and Etheriel Web Publications in Colorado Springs, CO (contact Craig Tomanini at 719-337-9712).
Media can pre-tape interviews about NORAD tracking Santa or pre-arrange Christmas Eve live interviews with NORAD personnel by calling 719-554-6889.