How Mission Control Talks to Santa

Santa may travel thousands of miles from the North Pole on Christmas Eve, but Mission Control is never far away.

That’s because the sleigh has a special communications system connecting Santa with the Tracking Station throughout his journey.

Before takeoff, Communications elves test every part of the system. They send a message to the sleigh. Santa responds. Then they test it again.

And usually once more, because communications elves really enjoy checklists.

During the flight, Mission Control uses the system to send important information.

Weather update ahead.

Route adjustment ready.

Reindeer status confirmed.

Next region cleared.

Santa can also contact Mission Control if he needs information. Communications elves receive the message, send it to the correct team and return the answer as quickly as possible.

The system has backup connections too. Christmas Eve is far too important to depend on only one way of communicating.

At the Communications Station, elves wear headsets and watch message screens throughout the night. Every transmission is recorded in the Christmas Eve flight log so Mission Control can review the journey afterward.

Near the end of the flight, one message is especially important.

It comes from Santa.

Final deliveries complete. Returning home.

That message usually earns a cheer across the entire room.