For its 60th consecutive year, NORAD will receive calls to inform Santa’s

The NORAD tracker follows Santa Claus as he leaves the North Pole and delivers presents to children around the world.

NORAD is now in its 60th year of tracking Santa Claus on his annual world-wide tour, but the technology by which it accomplishes this task continues to change with the times.

It started in 1955 when a Sears ad listed Santa’s number but misprinted it and actually directed children to a confidential line belonging to Col. Shoup, the command center’s head hauncho. The Facebook likes, Twitter followers, phone calls and OnStar questions were all record highs for NORAD Tracks Santa.

People dressed as Santa Claus gather in Brooklyn’s McCarren Park during the SantaCon 2015 in New York City December 12, 2015, the 21st anniversary of the event that sees hundreds of people dress as Father Christmas.

The agency’s defense support program satellites are capable of tracking even the most minute heat signature against the Earth’s background. Each volunteer took about 40 calls per hour.

“NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to phone calls and emails from children all around the world”. Stadnyk said. “And the Colonel who was on duty that night, at first he thought someone was playing a prank on him when the children started calling and asking if Santa was there”. “Ground based radar tracking sites relay global positioning updates to our elite fighter pilots, who often escort Santa’s sleigh through rough weather”.

According to Geoff Coulson, meteorologist with Environment Canada, the atmosphere over Northwestern Ontario looks clear for Santa’s reindeer to pull his sleigh through without any weather issues to slow them down.

SO FAR THIS YEAR: NORAD Tracks Santa had 1.5 million Facebook likes as of Wednesday morning. Mrs. Obama answered phone calls from Kailua, Hawaii, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2014.