Back in 1985 at Christmas, I was in the USAF and assigned to the 2nd Communications Squadron at Buckley AFB in Aurora, Colorado. The site operated the Defense Support Program (DSP) missile warning satellites for NORAD as a Space Command unit. We had the mission operators (AFSC 276x0) career field there that monitored the mission data from the satellites and reported missile launches and other events to NORAD.
One Karla Hightower was the newest trainee, and we let the newest member on crew start the Santa Report. She had seen this Santa Report as a child but was amazed that she was now going to be the one to do it.
So, she clicked a few buttons, tapped the light pen to the screen, and started Santa on his way at NORAD. Every few minutes another operator would update Santa’s position. NORAD would take these position reports and publish them to the news agencies and on the big screens at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.
Just a little history as to how that all once happened.
Great anecdote, thanks !
Cool, Thanks for the insight.