Just before the Mars Polar Lander's communication with Earth was terminated on December 3, 1999, the MARDI Team at Malin Space Science Systems received confirmation that the MARDI camera had powered-on and was ready to start taking pictures once the descent was underway.

The Mars Polar Lander was not heard from again, and has been presumed to have been lost.

The two releases below were designed prior to landing to show what MARDI might encounter at the south polar landing site.

Simulated Descent 02 December 1999

Simulated Polar Site 01 December 1999