Dexter, Missouri – Santa has been spotted by NORAD!  Did you know that children all over the United States can track Santa Clause?  The North American Aerospace Defense Command  (NORAD) is set to start tracking St. Nick’s travels tonight.  This is the 59th year Norad has been tracking Santa!

You can head over to NoradSanta.org to see the countdown clock ticking down to that final hour.  NORAD has been tracking Santa via its high-tech instruments since 1955 with its festive annual program designed to show children how the red-suited, jolly fellow makes his way to chimneys all over the world. 

Children can explore the North Pole and see Santa’s Village.  There are games, movies and music to keep the children entertained for hours as they wait for Santa.

How did all this get started?  Go to the Secret Santa Files and learn how Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for children to call Santa.  The phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline”.  OOPS!  Not to disappoint all the children, the Director had his staff check the radar for Santa and so it became tradition.  CONAD was later renamed to NORAD. 

Satellites help track Rudolph’s red nose with no problem.  The satellites are only 22,300 miles above the earth each with infrared sensors searching for heat. Rudolph's red nose sure puts off some heat with that GLOW!

NORAD intelligence even posts videos almost every hour on Christmas Eve of Santa making his way around the world.  There is even specific technical data about Santa’s sleight.  Did you know it is 75 candy canes long and 40 candy canes wide? Or that the maximum speed is faster than starlight?  Or that the fuel consists of hay, oats and carrots to keep his nine reindeer in tiptop shape?  There is so much to learn at NoradSanta.org.  Go check it out this holiday season.

HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas to all!