For kids wondering where Santa is, NORAD will tell them

Microsoft once again partnered with the North American Aerospace Defense Command for an interactive website at noradsanta.org, where Santa’s reindeer-drawn sleigh can be seen making its way over countries around the world.

An officer there took calls from several children and assured them Santa was on schedule, beginning a tradition that now employs modern technology, including a smart-phone app and social media.

In the meantime, children of all ages can prepare for the annual flight of jolly old St. Nick on the NORAD Tracks Santa official site. She assured them all that NORAD was tracking Santa’s progress closely, and his journey was going well. Tracking opportunities are also offered on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+. They’re both also offering games themed for the holiday, some of which are educational. The website is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Chinese.

The misdirected call was the result of the child reversing two numbers of a Santa Line phone number printed in a Sears advertisement, according to the National Archives. Instead phone calls went to Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command Center (CONRAD). Instead of turning the calls away, the director of operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff provide radar-tracked updates of Santa’s location.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has been working for weeks to tackle the one-day mission. This is one way to do it. Normally I just answer questions at work, but when you get to talk to the children.

For 60 years, the US military has had a special relationship with Santa Claus.

Most of these contacts happen during the 25 hours from 2 a.m. on December 24 until 3 a.m. MST on December 25.

As if all that tracking ability were not enough, at 6 a.m. EST, trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to ask about Santa’s location by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.