How an amateur photographer captured Discovery's dramatic final docking in space... from his BACK GARDEN



An amateur photographer has pulled off the once-in-a-lifetime feat of capturing the space shuttle approaching the International Space Station - from his back garden in the Forest of Dean.



Using just a mid-range digital camera and a 20-year-old telescope, astronomy enthusiast Rob Bullen was amazed to get the shot.



'I have never been able to capture a space shuttle in this flying configuration,' he said. 'It is the Holy Grail of International Space Station imaging.'

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Amateur photographer Rob Bullen seizes his chance to capture Discovery approaching the International Space Station from his back garden

Mr Bullen, 40, who has had a passion for the skies since the age of ten, added: 'Some years ago I thought it would be interesting to try to view the space station through my telescope and was shocked by the amount of detail you could see.'



It inspired the IT manager to pick up his Canon Eos 40D DSLR and 8.5in Newton telescope as the station passed over the UK last Saturday while the shuttle was in orbit.



He rigged his 10 megapixel camera up to the telescope and had just three minutes to capture the event as Discovery raced across the sky at a similar pace to a jet plane.



Mr Bullen then tracked the two craft across the skies but it was only when the cloud parted that he was able to capture this rare gem.



'I had no idea that night that the shuttle would only be 45 minutes away from docking with the station,' he said. 'After a cloudy day the skies cleared to allow a view of this stunning pass of the ISS and Discovery.



The space shuttle Discovery approaches the International Space Station for Saturday's docking above the cloud that parted right on time to give Jim Bullen his picture opportunity

'The timing was so fortuitous to show the shuttle closing in on the station. I captured what I guess could potentially be a once in a lifetime image of these two spaceships travelling as separate craft.



'Although over the years I have obtained clearer images of the station on its own, to capture such a iconic image of mankind's only permanently manned outpost in space and the most sophisticated flying machine ever built on its last flight before ending its days in a museum is something I will treasure.'

Discovery, which has 12 people on board representing the U.S., Russia and Italy, is the first in the fleet to be retired.



The cloud is now thinning as Discovery is captured from the International Space Station inching ever closer

Endeavour and then Atlantis will close out the 30-year shuttle programme later this year.



Discovery is the oldest of the three and the most travelled, with 143million miles logged over 39 flights since its first flight in 1984.



American astronauts Steve Bowen and Alvin Drew today completed the final shuttle Discovery spacewalk, spending six hours completing chores outside the International Space Station.