But the single runway at the Kennedy center affords the astronauts little leeway for maneuvering in case of last-minute shifts of wind or aiming errors.

Delegates will probably anoint leading candidates this week - and deny support to others - only after heated back-room bargaining and last-minute shifts in political allegiances.

As the debate approached last evening, the Dukakis campaign made a last-minute shift in its spin strategy, changing who would speak for the campaign on the all important post-debate network television shows.

Only a last-minute shift of the wind saved the business district of Wewoka from burning.

The main reason is that the last-minute shifts usually cancel one another out.

But school officials noted that over the last few years, the board had developed a reputation for last-minute shifts and unpredictable behavior.

But the students, displaying a portrait of Mr. Gorbachev, were determined to remain, and about 10,000 spent the night in the square, their presence forcing the last-minute shift in Chinese protocol.

This recalls a similar last-minute shift.

The ripple effect of the decline in price caused several last-minute shifts.

There might be some kind of a last-minute shift that could leave us where we're not supposed to be.