NORAD to track Santa's flight

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - North American Aerospace Defense Command officials plan to track Santa Claus.

The "NORAD Tracks Santa" web site is available at http://www.noradsanta.org.

On Dec. 24, the web site will stream videos, captured by NORAD "Santa Cams," from numerous cities along Santa's journey.

Also children and the young-at-heart will be able to track Santa through Facebook, Twitter, or on their mobile phone.

Beginning at 2:00 a.m. on Dec. 24, visitors to the "NORAD Tracks Santa" web site can watch Santa as he prepares his sleigh, checks his list, and goes through all his preparations to ensure he has a successful journey.

As soon as Santa takes off from the North Pole, children can track him with up-to-the-minute Google Maps and Google Earth reports.

Special 'Santa Trackers' will begin answering phones and replying to e-mail at 6:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve. Children of all ages can call 877-Hi-NORAD (877-446-6723) toll-free, or can send an e-mail to noradtrackssanta@gmail.com.

The "NORAD Tracks Santa" program began Dec. 24, 1955, when a child dialed a phone number that was misprinted in a newspaper advertisement and reached the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The commander at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station who answered the phone that night gave the youngster the information requested: Santa's whereabouts. This began the tradition of tracking Santa, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958.

(Compiled from American Forces Press Service report and North American Aerospace Defense Command news release)