Norad Santa Tracker

[Agur's Wish]

In 1955, a newspaper misprint directed children who wanted to call Santa Claus to the Continental Air Defense Command instead. Realizing the error, the Director of Operations had his staff check the radar data in order to provide children with updates on Santa's position in the skies throughout Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately, I'm not on the boat this Christmas Eve but when I was I would give hourly updates of Santa's position over the VHF radio for those boats and kids in the anchorage that didn't have internet. I used to let the cap'n do it but one Christmas Eve at about 8:00 pm some cruiser came back and said they didn't know that Foster Brooks was on island. It's a fun thing to do. Just go to noradsanta.org. Currently, Santa is in Dudinka, Russia.

Goto: http://www.noradsanta.org/

[schoonerdog]

My son was GLUED to this on Christmas Eve. On our boat, the protocol is to leave your anchor and deck light on and a hatch open (or cracked if it's too cold) for Santa to come in.

[GordMay]

Norad Tracks Santa marks its 60th anniversary this year, as the North American Aerospace Defence Command deploys some of its ultra-sensitive military technology so children can follow the jolly old elf's Christmas Eve flight from the North Pole.
➥ Norad Tracks Santa: Christmas tradition for children turns 60 - Technology & Science - CBC News

Goto ➥ Official NORAD Santa Tracker

Call: 1-877-HI-NORAD

Of course, there’s a more cynical (& likely more authentic) version of the story.

➥ http://www.theatlantic.com/national/...-norad/421161/

➥ http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/how-t...-wa-1664149776

[GordMay]

Where in the world is Santa Claus?
Even the novel coronavirus pandemic can't keep Santa Claus at home this year. Are you curious to know where he is right this moment?
NORAD’s Santa Tracker 2020 ➥ https://www.noradsanta.org/

[GordMay]

Santa Trackers [2021]:
NORAD ➥ https://www.noradsanta.org/en/map
Google ➥ https://santatracker.google.com/?utm...ampaign=Global

Yes, there is a Santa Claus. And no, COVID-19 won't stop him

The Colorado-based North American Aerospace Defense Command provides real-time updates on Santa's progress Dec. 24, from 4 a.m. to midnight MST. NORAD's Santa Tracker lets families watch Father Christmas in 3D as he transits the South Pacific, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

From deep inside NORAD headquarters, dozens of volunteers field an unrelenting wave of phone calls to 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723). They and other volunteers working off-site because of coronavirus distancing protocols will answer such questions as "When will he come to my house? What kind of cookies does he like?" said program manager and NORAD spokesman Preston Schlachter.

Much more ➥ https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/yes...-him-1.5718983


"Roger, please be informed there is a Santa Claus"

There might have been a different buzz in the air, during the 1968 holiday season. Tensions were high, amid the Vietnam War and Cold War, and civil and human rights issues were blazing. But on that Christmas Eve, millions stopped in their tracks, to watch the Apollo 8 crew become the first humans to orbit another world.

James A. Lovell, Jr., William A. Anders, and Frank Borman were told that they would be allowed to speak to listeners on December 24. NASA let the crew decide what to say, with the only caveat, that it had to be something appropriate.

The crew decided to take turns reciting verses from Genesis, as they were orbiting the moon.

Even though it was Christmas Eve, the astronauts didn't want to alienate those who don't celebrate the holiday. Lovell explained that "The first 10 verses of Genesis is the foundation of many of the world's religions, not just the Christian religion."

This mission is also known for the epic photo dubbed "Earth Rise." It was Anders who took this photo. He said that though he was on a mission to discover the moon, he ended up discovering Earth.

More ➥ https://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/.../apollo_8.html

Apollo 8's Christmas Eve 1968 Message
Audio ➥ https://youtu.be/ToHhQUhdyBY

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by GordMay

... "Roger, please be informed there is a Santa Claus" ...

Sorry, I failed to attribute the quote.

On Christmas morning 1968, Apollo 8 started home, with an engine burn, to leave lunar orbit.
Astronaut Jim Lovell reported success, by saying: “Roger, please be informed there is a Santa Claus.”
The crew splashed down on December 27, concluding the first human visit to the Moon.

[gamayun]

My son sent me this link today. Never heard the story before. It warms my heart on this rainy Christmas day.

https://www.npr.org/2014/12/19/37164...d-a-good-sport

[GordMay]

You must have missed these posts:
24-12-2021 ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3542583
24-12-2015 ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post1996149
24-12-2008 ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...tml#post236620

1955: NORAD's Tracking of Santa Started By a Wrong Number
A Colorado Springs, Colorado Sears store runs an ad, asking children to call Santa. However, a misprint gave the CONAD (forerunner to NORAD) phone number. The CONAD soldiers answered the calls, starting a holiday tradition that is now carried on by NORAD.

[rbk]

We are at close families house this Christmas and they only have Netflix so putting on the news with updates was not an option. The norad tracking app sort of worked but feel it misses the ‘legitimacy’ of seeing it being reported by an adult news anchor on TV.