[Errant]

But not a Space Shuttle. There are a lot of variables, not the least of which is the distance of the camera from the object.

The Space Shuttle reaches earth orbit and a speed of 17,500 MPH in just 7 Minutes.

[Tolsti2]

It would be the world’s slowest rocket for sure. The plume in the video doesn’t move like a real one either. It’s clearly a reflective jet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFKcMd8AME0

These things get up high enough so that the plume changes color/shape entirely after just a minute or so, not hover around like a contrail as this ‘mystery’ ones.

It’s just an amazing optical illusion and the timing was perfect to get that angle to look how it does.

[ml/nj]

The Space Shuttle reaches earth orbit and a speed of 17,500 MPH in just 7 Minutes.

You see, I've been on the base for a launch, and I guess you haven't. (I've also seen a couple of others go up from off base.) The initial ascent of the Shuttle appears to be quite slow.

ML/NJ

[Seven plus One]

The Space Shuttle reaches earth orbit and a speed of 17,500 MPH in just 7 Minutes.

A ballistic missile doesn't want to accelerate to orbital velocity. It'd go into orbit and miss the target. The effects of distance and the viewer's angle vs. the ballistic arc are huge. Post 27 is right.