Many of viewers watched as the U.S. military shot down a
Chinese-operated high-altitude balloon on February 4, 2023.
However, many were not aware of how the balloon was spotted or
tracked prior to making the news. This Article provides additional
background on NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command
and discusses legal issues involving balloons and other objects
entering the U.S. National Airspace System.
WHO AND WHAT IS NORAD?
The North American Aerospace Defense Command
("NORAD"), also famously known for tracking Santa every
year, was founded in 1957 and is a United States and Canada
bi-national organization responsible for the missions of aerospace
warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North
America.1 NORAD's responsibility of aerospace
warning includes the detection, validation, and warning of
potential attacks against North America whether by aircraft,
missiles, space vehicles, or other objects through mutual support
arrangements
