“We came in peace for all mankind”  is a line from Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. In the past, space explorers have accomplished great goals, great goals that not only brought people into the future, but also into a world beyond earth. 
So why is the space program so important? Why did great powers choose to examine outer space? The answer is the generation of new knowledge, more advanced technology and amazing innovative thinking. According to “Why We Explore” a work from NASA, “The knowledge accumulated over many missions and the expansion of human presence into the Solar System help people gain perspective on the fragility and rarity of life in the Universe and on humankind's accomplishments, potential, and destiny.” Also, based on space exploration, we can find improvements in science, technology, and industrial capabilities; these improvements will contribute to an increasing number of private companies and industries which will then contribute largely to economic progress (“Why We Explore”). Over recent years, there are several first-ever accomplishments that we have achieved in our quest to reach the stars.
SpaceX, facing great challenges, has successfully added a new feature to spacecraft sent into space. They recently introduced Falcon 9, the orbital-class rocket, which has the capability of reflight. This will significantly reduce the need for spacecraft rebuilds, thus further reducing economic difficulties in the development of space travel. SpaceX claims that “rocket reusability is the key breakthrough needed to reduce the cost of access to space and enable people to live on other planets.” This will make outer space more accessible to more people in the future. Additionally, this new feature will reduce space debris (“Falcon 9)”) The debris often left in space after a mission can clutter orbital paths and cause debris to drop onto the earth. In Shenyan Chen’s research, he states that “space activities have produced large quantities of discarded equipment, rocket upper stages, defunct satellites, bolts, and other hardware released during the deployment of satellites, as well as fragments from the breakup of satellites and rocket upper stages.” This problem can be efficiently solved by Falcon 9 due to its capability of reflight. There will be much less garbage left in space, and less money will be spent on reducing space debris (Chen).
The Rosetta Space probe was the first spacecraft able to closely examine comets, comets that might have brought important elements to earth. Comet may provide evidence to help us understand the origins of Earth and other planets (Rosetta). According to Rosetta work from NASA, “Comets may have brought water and organic compounds, the building blocks of life, to the early Earth and other parts of the solar system.” Closely examining comets can help elucidate what gave birth to the simple life and complex organisms on earth. Launched for the purpose of observing comet 67, Rosetta will land a robot onto the comet and it will orbit a comet as it “enters our inner solar system.” (“Rosetta”)  Rosetta will closely examine the change that occurs when the sun heats the comet, and how the comet transformed into a star representing both hope and fear (Rosetta).
The Chang’e 4 Spacecraft was the first to land on the moon's far side. Previously, knowledge of the moon had been mostly limited to the near side: Samples from space programs are mostly obtained from the near side of the moon. The first human landed on the near side of the moon; most importantly and obviously, the near side of the moon can be easily observed by human eyes. Exploration of the moon’s far side may bring us new and important discoveries. The important difference between the near and far side of the moon--which experience different radiation profiles-- is that humans were unable to find radio light due to the disruption of our activities, such as television, broadcast for radios, and other signals for communication. However, there is a new solution: Chang’e 4. The landing on the far side of the moon can help us observe low frequency radio light which came from the universe. (Schlingman). Schlingman states that “Low-frequency radio peers back in time to the very first stars and the very first black holes, giving astronomers a greater understanding of how the structures of the universe began forming” An additional potential benefit is that Chang’e 4 researchers will examine if plant seeds can grow from the soil obtained from the far side of the moon (Schlingman).
Moving forward from these space accomplishments, space programs are hoping to reach new and greater goals. For example, Roscosmos is offering space tours to civilians (2021) and a new NASA Mars rover with greater diagnostic capabilities will launch in the near future (2020) (Whitwam). The pace of innovation, technological breakthroughs, and exploration that will yield new information about the universe is ever increasing and promises to bring a trove of new knowledge about space beyond our little planet.