This is a great exchange between launch director Mike Leinbach and Atlantis Commander Christopher Ferguson prior to the final shuttle launch:

“OK, Fergie, we’re starting to feel pretty good down here on the ground about this one today. So on behalf of the greatest team in the world good luck to you and your crew on the final flight of a true American icon. And so for the final time, Fergie, Doug, Sandy, and Rex, good luck, Godspeed, and have a little fun up there…”

“Hey thanks to you and your team Mike. Until the very end you all made it look easy. The shuttle is always going to be a reflection of what a great nation can do when it dares to be bold and commits to follow through. We’re not ending the journey today Mike, we’re completing a chapter of a journey that will never end. You and the thousands of men and women who gave their hearts, souls, and their lives for the cause of exploration have rewritten history. Let’s light this fire one more time Mike and witness this great nation at its best. The crew of Atlantis is ready for launch.”