Which one is NOT one of the systems NORAD uses to track Santa Claus's flight?

A. Radars facing north pole
B. Satellites scanning for red nose
C. GPS tracking via Santa's cell phone
D. Santa cams pre-postioned

<< scroll down to see the answer >>

C. GPS tracking via Santa's cell phone

NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) uses four high-tech systems to track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa cams and fighter jets.

For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight.

The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement for children to call Santa misprinted the telephone number. Instead of reaching the jolly man in the red suit, the kids' calls were directed to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

Tracking Santa starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system consists of 47 installations strung across the northern border of North America. 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, NORAD uses their second detection system - satellites. These satellites are equipped with infrared sensors, which enable them to detect heat. Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature, which allows NORAD's satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.

The third tracking system is the Santa cam network. NORAD began using it in 1998, which is the year they put their Santa Tracking program on the internet. Santa cams are high-tech, high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many locations around the world. Only in use once a year, these cameras capture images and videos of Santa and his crew as they make their journey around the world.

Fighter jets make up the fourth system. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots welcome Santa to North America. In the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots take over the role of escort.

I would think that cell phone tracking will happen in the near future - that is, IF Santa has a cell phone.  Happy holidays.

North Pole Tidbit: If you're standing at the North Pole, all points are south of you (east and west have no bearing). Since the earth's rotation takes place once every 24 hours, if you're at the North Pole your speed of rotation is quite slow at almost no speed at all, compared to the speed at the equator at about 1,038 miles per hour.

Source: www.noradsanta.org/en/howtrack.html

Posted by Jeff Rae on Dec 22, 2011 at 6:30 AM