The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a bi-national United States and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America.

According to the official web site, the NORAD-U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Command Center serves as a central collection and coordination facility for a worldwide system of sensors designed to provide the commander and the leadership of Canada and the U.S. with an accurate picture of the airspace above the U.S. and Canada. The commander is appointed by, and is responsible to, both the U.S. president and the Canadian prime minister.

Although most data collected by NORAD is top secret, each December 24th, volunteers at NORAD share the data they collect about one specific object in space -- a red sleigh led by eight tiny reindeer (nine if it's foggy).  What started as a typographical error in a newspaper ad has become a tradition for many children across America and Canada.  According to the special NORAD web site, NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa - radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets.