I have to disagree, Larry. The effect of resolution is uniform across an image--I can't see how it would preferentially distort one part of the image. Second, the part of the image showing distortion just happens to be the part that corresponds to sensor data indicating problems; plus flight data indicates that Columbia was trying to compensate for screwed-up aerodynamics on the left side. Finally, the distortion isn't just the leading edge of the left wing; there's also what could be interpreted as a debris trail from the trailing edge.

If only one of those things was reflected in the image I'd be skeptical; but with all of them present and correlating with independent evidence, I have to conclude that the image is depicting reality.

--Robert