[Gracey]

from the SW and the speed/altitude losing turns seemed to happen closer in than where Columbia was doing her turns yesterday.

I've seen one landing in person at KSC and many on TV. The Orbiter seems to make it's final turn, while losing much altitude, just as you mentioned...from the SW.

The only thing I've heard from NASA officials today was that the Orbiter was correcting itself to compensate for the yawing or pitching caused by the left wing leading edge problem.

[Gracey]

OH, of course the landing direction depends on the direction of the wind. I'm sure they land INTO the wind and don't land when there is a heavy crosswind, as there is only one LONG runway.