The gods are pleased with these drones' sacrifice

Saturday, February 28, 2015, 1:33 PM - Drones have revolutionized photography, and as the above video shows, they're pretty handy for science.

Shot by explorer Sam Cossman and a team of filmmakers and scientists, it shows the crater of Vanuatu's Ambrym Volcano as we suspect no one has ever seen it -- at least, not seen it and lived to tell about it.

Two of the drones didn't make it, but the ones that did survive sent back invaluable data, enough to allow 3D modelling of the large and very active crater.

Here's the 3D map that modellers produced from the data, set to a rather soothing sound track:

Drone or no drone, being that close to an active volcano isn't exactly a safe job. Cossman did his work decked out in a heat suit built to withstand temperatures of more than 500^oC, and the occasional splatter of magma.

Cossman himself is quite the story. National Geographic reports he actually quit his tech job a month before his date with the volcano.

"While I was perfectly aware of the danger, it was hard not to be mesmerized by the rare chance to experience the incredible energy of the Earth’s underlying forces,” he told the magazine.

WATCH BELOW: Six drone videos of this winter's frozen fury

SOURCES: National Geographic | Popular Science