Tracking Santa: The Military-Grade Magic Behind NORAD's Santa Tracker
About this episode
On Christmas Eve, a simple misprint sparked a legendary tradition: NORAD's Santa Tracker. We unpack the origin—from a CONAD hotline prank to a real-time, 3D Cesium-powered digital twin of Earth—complete with star catalogs, LiDAR terrain, and a 26,762-triangle sleigh. Meet the volunteers, the engineering feats, and the enduring blend of old myth and modern precision that turns holiday wonder into a showcase of teamwork and technology.
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