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EXTON, Pa., 10 December 2004. For the eighth straight year, software technology from Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) will assist the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in its special duty of tracking the fastest vehicle in the world: Santa's sleigh.
NORAD's annual tradition of monitoring Jolly Old St. Nick's Christmas Eve journey around the world began 50 seasons ago via telephone and continues today at www.noradsanta.org.
Beginning at 5 a.m. ET Christmas Eve day, the NORAD Santa tracking site allows believers of all ages to get up-to-the-minute reports, streaming videos, and pictures from 24 key stops on Santa's 2004 trip. AGI's STK aerospace analysis and visualization software will output live images from NORAD's high-speed digital "Santa Cams" to computer and television screens across the globe. The site registered 712 million hits during its two months of operation last holiday season.
AGI's President and CEO Paul Graziani says, "This is the eighth year we have provided our software to assist NORAD in tracking Santa's journey. It is gratifying that our products not only protect national security and support space missions, but also help make Christmas come alive for millions of people around the world."
Maj. Douglas Martin, Santa project coordinator at NORAD headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., adds, "All year long NORAD defends North American airspace, which is extremely rewarding to our team. Each holiday season, the thrill of using our technology to help spread Christmas joy further adds to our sense of pride."
In celebration of this year's landmark 50th season, former Beatle Ringo Starr will again serve as an honorary Santa tracker. Starr will provide the update of Santa's progress in Great Britain, just one of the two dozen stops that will be recorded by the Santa Cams.
Santa's journey -- which begins in the North Pole and ends in the Hawaiian Islands -- includes visits to Moscow; New York; and Reindeer Lake, Canada. The "NORAD Tracks Santa" Web site is available in English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. Other volunteer organizations involved in this holiday effort include: America Online, Akamai, ICG Communications, 24-7 Web Studio, MCI, and Globelink Language and Cultural Services.
Visit www.noradsanta.org today for instructions on preparing your computer for the daylong Christmas Eve event and to get a sneak peek video of Santa's journey. Visitors can also learn a wealth of information, including how Santa visits so many homes in one night and how NORAD does its tracking. The hourly video clips begin on Dec. 24 at 5 a.m. ET, and are updated regularly until 5 a.m. ET on Dec. 25.
AGI provides software to more than 30,000 national security and space professionals for integrated analyses of land, sea, air, and space assets. Key applications include: battlespace management, geospatial intelligence initiatives, space operations, and national defense programs. AGI was recently named the "Best Small Company to Work for in America." For more information see www.agi.com.
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