NORAD Santa Tracker is back

Starting at 1:00 a.m. on Dec. 24, you can track Santa live as he starts his journey around the world delivering presents. Just visit www.noradsanta.org online.

The NORAD application also offers Santa Cams of Santa and his flying reindeer.

Beginning in 1955 NORAD has been keeping an eye on Santa. The program was developed by the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), the predecessor to NORAD.

This tradition began when a misprinted telephone number for children to call Santa was published. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations hotline.

The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup got into the swing of Christmas and had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way around the world from the North Pole. The children who called were given updates about Santa's locations.

Since that first Santa Tracker, volunteers at NORAD have given their time responding to phone calls, email and tracking Santa each year.

As of Dec. 1, NORAD has put a Santa Tracker countdown on their site as well as holiday games.