Visualization methods were used to monitor deflections. A flight test recorder was developed to quantitatively assess wing performance. The current paradigm for achieving a large membrane structure in space is to build and test it on the ground, package the entire assembly, then deploy it in space. Solar sails will have the most demanding requirements for size and areal density. Foremost among these is the shear challenge of handling an extremely large, lightweight, and flexible structure on the ground, both during manufacturing and testing.
Packaging also becomes exceedingly complicated, as does deployment.
Hence it is desired to find alternative paradigms for placing truly large membrane structures in space. In seeking the answer, we are inexorably lead to the spider web. Strong, ultra-light, and built in place. Some webs even approach being monolithic due to their high silk strand density. This paper explores the concept of building very large space structures, such as solar sails, by an adaptation of spider web spinning.