NORAD is best known today for tracking Santa’s journey each Christmas Eve, but its origins go back much further. Established in 1958 during the Cold War, the North American Aerospace Defense Command was created as a joint effort between the United States and Canada to monitor and defend North American airspace. It was the first bi-national military command of its kind, built on the idea that shared borders require shared protection.

Over the decades, NORAD’s mission has evolved from tracking long-range bombers to monitoring missiles, airspace, and even objects in space. Its role in space surveillance is more important than ever as Earth’s orbit becomes increasingly crowded. What sets NORAD apart is its enduring partnership, American and Canadian personnel working side by side for more than 65 years.

The Santa tracking tradition began in 1955 after a misprinted phone number led children to call a military command center instead of Santa. Rather than turning them away, an officer played along, creating a holiday tradition that continues today and reminds us there are people behind the radar screens.

Track Santa’s journey here!