Santa Claus draws up a long list of the children who made good during the year. The list becomes longer and longer due to the constant growth of the world population. As a result, Santa Claus has to deliver more toys in the same amount of time.
If he worked in a standard time frame, he could only stay in each house for 2-3 ten thousandths of a second! Santa Claus does not want to hurry such an important job as delivering gifts to children and passing on the spirit of Christmas to everyone, so the only logical conclusion is that Santa Claus lives in a space-time continuum distinct from ours.
Long before the Wright brothers flew the first airplane or the Montgolfier brothers made the first aerostatic balloon rise in the sky, Santa Claus had already found a way to fly from house to house at great speed.
Thanks to the images from the NORAD Santa cameras (the North American Aerospace Defense Command), we know that Santa has chosen a group of flying reindeer as his means of rapid transport. Detailed information on these reindeer still eludes us; we do know, however, that Santa has enlisted them on his mission of delivering gifts to the world. A veil of sweet mystery hides the rest.
The data of the most powerful system ever conceived: Santa's sleigh
- Possible first flight: December 24, 343 AD
- Base: North Pole
- Takeoff weight: 75.000 cg (gummy candies)
- Passenger weight on take-off: Santa's 118 kg
- Weight of gifts on take off: 60.000 tons
- Landing weight: 80.000 cg (accumulation of ice and snow)
- Passenger landing weight: 572 kg
- Propulsion: nine (9) rv (steam reindeer)
- Armament: branched horns (defense only)
- Fuel: hay, oats and carrots (for reindeer)
- Emissions: Classified
- Climb speed: 1 "B" (Blink of an eye)
- Maximum speed: greater than starlight
How will you follow Santa?
It all starts with the NORAD radar system called North Warning System. This powerful radar system has 47 installations stretched across northern Canada and Alaska. For NORAD it is important to keep the radar strictly under control for Santa Claus when he leaves the North Pole every Christmas season. At a time when our radar tells us that Santa Claus took off, we start using the same satellites we use in providing air warnings for possible launch of missiles aimed at North America.
Then it will be the turn of the satellites in geo-synchronous orbit (this sentence is too strong, it means that the satellite is always fixed in the same point of the Earth) at 22,3 thousand miles above the Earth. The satellites are equipped with infrared sensors, which means they can see the heat. When a rocket or missile is launched, an enormous amount of heat is produced - enough for the satellites to be able to identify them. Rudolph's nose emits a characteristic infrared ray similar to a missile launch. The satellites detect Rudolph's dazzling red nose without any problem.
The third system we use is the SantaCam. We started using it in the 1998 - the year we put our Santa Claus tracking program on the Internet. NORAD SantaCams are the outstanding high-tech, high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned in many places around the world. NORAD uses these cameras only once a year - on December 24th. We turn on the cameras about an hour before Santa enters a country and turn them off after we have captured images of him with his reindeer. We immediately download the images to our website for all over the world to see. SantaCams produce both video and still images.
The last system we use is the NORAD fighter jet. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots take off in the CF-18s to Newfoundland and welcome Santa Claus to North America. Then in the numerous locations in Canada other CF-18 pilots escort Santa Claus. In the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots on F-15, F-16 or F-22 experience the thrill of flying with Santa Claus and the famous reindeer - Lightning (Dasher) Dancer Crash (Prancer) Dart (Vixen) Comet (Comet) Cupid (Cupid) Thunder (Donner) Lightning (Blitzen) Rudolph.
Even if Santa flies faster than any fighter (slows down to be escorted), all systems provide NORAD with good monitoring of where it is.
When will Santa Claus arrive at my house?
INORAD follows Santa Claus, but only he knows the route he will take, so we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your home. We do know, however, that traditionally comes when children are sleeping! In many countries it seems that Santa Claus arrives between 21: 00 and midnight of 24 December. If the children are still awake when he arrives, he moves to the other houses. Then come back later ... but only when the kids are sleeping!
What is Santa's journey?
Santa Claus usually leaves the international date line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west. Therefore, historically, Santa Claus first visits the South Pacific, then New Zealand and Australia. After that, it rises up in Japan, along Asia, through Africa, then in Western Europe, Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central and Latin America. But remember, the path followed by Santa Claus may depend on weather conditions, so it's really unpredictable. The NORAD coordinates with the elves of the launching base of Santa Claus to confirm the departure, but from that moment on it is Santa Claus who decides. We only follow it!
Santa Claus visits children around the world (eg also Afghanistan, Israel, non-Christian countries)?
Of course! Santa Claus visits all the houses where there are children who believe in his existence.
How does Santa Claus travel around the world in 24 hours?
I NORAD reports indicate that Santa has a different perception of time than ours. His journey seems to last 24 hours, but for Santa Claus it is as if it lasted for days, weeks or even months. Santa Claus does not want to hurry such an important job as delivering gifts to children and transmitting joy to everyone, so the only logical conclusion is that Santa Claus lives somehow in his own space-time continuum.
Does Santa really exist?
Mountains of data and over 50 years of tracking information acquired by NORAD confirm that Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of people around the world.
How old is Santa Claus?
It's hard to know for sure, but the NORAD news service indicates that Santa has NOT LESS than 16 centuries.
What does Santa look like?
Based on flight profile data collected in over 50 years of radar and satellite surveys by NORAD, Santa is probably about 1,70 m high and weighs approximately 118 kg (before eating the biscuits). Based on the photos taken by the fighters, we know that he has a rather abundant waist (belly), red cheeks due to the journey in a cold sleigh and a flowing white beard.
How does Santa get off the chimneys?
Although NORAD has formulated various hypotheses and theories about the way in which Santa Claus can actually get off the chimneys, he has no definitive information that can explain this magical phenomenon.
Do the fighters ever intercept Santa Claus?
During the last 50 years, our fighter planes (F-16, F-15, F-22 and CF-18) have intercepted Santa Claus many times. When planes intercept Santa Claus, they tilt their wings to say: "Hello Santa! NORAD follows you this year too!" Every time, Santa is waving his hand. Loves to see the pilots!
Does NORAD have photos of Santa Claus taken from planes?
Our pilots love taking pictures of Santa Claus. We also have Santa-cameras in space that take videos of Santa Claus as he flies around the world. These videos are broadcast almost every hour on December 24 on www.noradsanta.org.
Where's Santa Claus now?
Santa Claus is at the North Pole, where he lives with Mrs. Natale and the elves, who build toys and take care of the reindeer all year. Every year, on the occasion of the 24 December, Santa Claus and his reindeer leave the North Pole very early in the morning to make their famous journey around the world. At the exact moment of departure, NORAD begins to follow him.
Has Santa Claus ever collided with something while flying around the world?
Santa has been flying for centuries without ever hitting anything. Must be an exceptional driver!
Can I send an email to NORAD to find out where Santa is?
Yup! On December 24 you can send an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com A NORAD staff member will respond to your email and notify you of Santa's last known position. You can also follow Santa on your phone on the official Windows 8 app and you can even talk directly to a NORAD operator to find out about Santa's position!
(photo: NORAD / US Air National Guard)
