Scientists from Princeton University have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that can predict the various theoretically stable orbital configurations of the planets in a system.

The model, called the Stability of Planetary Orbital Configurations Klassifier or SPOCK, for short is a pun referring to the famous beloved half-Vulcan/half-human first officer of the starship Enterprise from the Star Trek series “because the model determines whether systems will ‘live long and prosper’,” the lead author of the study, Daniel Tamayo from Princeton University explained in an official statement.

The SPOCK does calculations to predict the stability of the planetary orbital systems to understand whether the planets will ever collide with each other or survive. While previous computers too, could make the calculations, SPOCK’s AI model calculates the longterm stability of planetary configurations 100,000 ties faster! 

The scientists are also hopeful that the model will help them look into the planets’ abilities to organise themselves around stars and form stable orbits around a star’s life cycle.

Prof Michael Strauss, the chair of Princeton’s Department of Astrophysical Sciences explained that with SPOCK, “we can hope to understand in detail the full range of solar system architectures that nature allows.”

The research which was recently pre-published on ARXIV.org will soon be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.