The velocity counter means airspeed. The reason you aren't seeing the results you expect is that the shuttle launches in a ballistic arc to enter orbit. The boo

The velocity counter means airspeed. The reason you aren't seeing the results you expect is that the shuttle launches in a ballistic arc to enter orbit. The boosters also follow that same trajectory, but lack orbital velocity. So what you see is them losing speed until they reach the peak of that arc, then gaining speed as they are drawn back towards the earth. This gives you an idea of the arc: http://media.tcpalm.com/media/img/photos/2010/04/05/0406_LOC_IR_shuttle_t607.jpg http://media.tcpalm.com/media/img/photos/2010/04/05/0406_LOC...