Transmitter was turned off to save power for Pathfinder's first day on Mars. Its airbags deflated and were retracted up against its petals. The petals opened. This sequence will took about an hour and a half. Sunrise on Mars.
Transmitter is turned back on just prior to sunrise.
But, these are only of the lander, NOT the Martian surface. Once the lander has settled on the surface, pyrotechnic devices in the lander petal latches are blown to allow the petals to be opened. The latches locking the sturdy side petals in place are necessary because of the pulling forces exerted on the lander petals by the deployed airbag system. In parallel with the petal latch release, a retraction system will begin slowly dragging the airbags toward the lander, breaching vent ports on the side of each bag, in the process deflating the bags through a cloth filter. The airbags are drawn toward the petals by internal lines extending between attachments within the airbags and small winches on each of the lander sides.