* Liftoff: The shuttle would lift off the pad at around 450 mph (724 km/h).
* Max Q: This was the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure on the shuttle, occurring around 1 minute after liftoff. The speed at this point was roughly 600 mph (965 km/h).
* Main Engine Cutoff (MECO): This is when the shuttle's main engines shut down, typically around 8 minutes after liftoff. The speed at MECO was about 17,500 mph (28,163 km/h).
* Orbit Insertion: After the solid rocket boosters separated, the shuttle's engines would fire again to circularize its orbit. The speed at this point would vary depending on the desired orbit, but it was typically around 17,500 mph (28,163 km/h).
So, there's no single "take-off" speed for the Space Shuttle. It's more accurate to say that the shuttle accelerated to orbital velocity, which was around 17,500 mph (28,163 km/h).
