Space targets adaptive optics images blind restoration by convolutional neural network

To obtain sharp images of space targets, high-accuracy restoration of degraded images corrected by an adaptive optics (AO) system is necessary. Existing algorithms are mainly based on the physical constraints of both image and point-spread function (PSF), which are usually continuously estimated in an alternately iterative manner and take a long time to restore blurred images. We propose an end-to-end blind restoration method for ground-based space target images based on conditional generative adversarial network without estimating PSF. The whole network consists of two parts, generator network and discriminator network, which are used for learning the atmospheric degradation process and achieving the purpose of generating restored images. To train the network, a simulated AO image dataset containing 4800 sharp–blur image pairs is constructed by 80 three-dimensional models of space targets combined with degradation of atmospheric turbulence. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method not only enhances the restoration accuracy but also improves the restoration efficiency of single-frame object images.