As many youngsters around the globe eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas morning, the North American Aerospace Protection Command (NORAD) is making the wait somewhat simpler with its annual Santa Tracker.
NORAD is a joint group of the US and Canada answerable for monitoring objects in North American airspace and defending the continent from potential airborne threats. Every Christmas, the group makes use of its North Warning System radar system and early warning satellites to trace ol’ Saint Nick and his reindeer as they carry pleasure to youngsters who rejoice Christmas worldwide.Â
The minute Santa launches on his sleigh pulled by his eight well-known reindeer (plus Rudolph!), NORAD begins monitoring his progress. This yr, the NORAD Santa Tracker (opens in new tab) will start following Santa at 6:00 a.m. EST (0900 GMT) on Saturday (Dec. 24).
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NORAD’s Santa Tracker custom has been going since 1955, when the group’s predecessor, the Continental Air Protection Command (CONAD), started providing updates on St. Nick’s journey.Â
“Whereas the custom of monitoring Santa started purely by chance, NORAD continues to trace Santa,” the official NORAD Santa Tracker website (opens in new tab) states. “We’re the one group that has the expertise, the {qualifications} and the folks to do it. And, we like it! NORAD is honored to be Santa’s official tracker!”
Keen Santa trackers in the US may even name in to NORAD to inquire about Kris Kringle’s present whereabouts as he makes his approach around the globe.Â
“The NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Heart is totally operational starting at 4 AM MST on December twenty fourth,” the tracker’s official web site states. “You possibly can name 1 877 HI-NORAD (1 877 446-6723) to speak on to a NORAD workers member who will have the ability to let you know Santa’s precise location. Operators can be found till midnight.”Â
Over 1,250 NORAD personnel take part on the Santa Tracker effort annually, answering telephone calls and emails about Santa’s progress.
The NORAD Santa Tracker is powered by simulation software program developed by AGI/Ansys (opens in new tab). Adam Gorski, an aerospace engineer with Ansys Authorities Initiatives, instructed House.com that the simulation software program permits NORAD to supply essentially the most correct observe of Santa Claus as doable. “Ansys simulation software program is used to make sure NORAD can safely observe Santa as he travels around the globe,” Gorski stated. “Ansys simulations guarantee NORAD satellites can detect the warmth from Rudolph’s nostril, and radars can observe Santa’s sleigh excessive within the sky. Our simulations are additionally used to assist Santa’s elves carry out some aerodynamic evaluation on designs of his sleigh over the yr.”
The software program even aids Santa’s journey, Gorski added. “So as to guarantee on-time supply by Christmas morning, Santa’s sleigh travels at hypersonic pace – Mach 7. Ansys simulation software program helps Santa decide if the sleigh wants extra reindeer to keep up steadiness and acquire extra energy and effectivity.”
The NORAD Santa Tracker website (opens in new tab) even contains specs and technical information for Santa’s sleigh: It has a most pace of “quicker than starlight” and its emissions stay categorized —  in all probability for the sake of the reindeers’ dignity.
In line with NORAD, Santa’s wondrous plane measures 75 by 40 by 55 sweet canes (150 by 80 by 110 lollipops) and its weight at takeoff is 75,000 gumdrops. Its passenger weight at takeoff for Santa Claus is 260 kilos (118 kilograms), whereas its passenger weight at touchdown is 1,260 kilos (571 kg).  All of these cookies and milk add up!
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