NORAD

National

From tracking Santa to Chinese spy balloons, here's what we know about NORAD

6:25pm February 15, 2023

by Bill Chappell

The air defense center was created in the 1950s, as a counter to a rival superpower. Now NORAD is front and center again, prompting questions about what it does — and how it copes with modern threats.

U.S. Northern Command Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Charles D. Luckey joins volunteers taking phone calls from children during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation, at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Photo tak

Tracking Santa Tradition Is Serious Fun For NORAD

3:14pm December 24, 2017

by Amy Held

The longstanding tradition has reportedly become the biggest single public outreach program for the Defense Department, according to Politico. More than 100 thousand kids reach out each Christmas Eve.