Space missions have changed how we see and understand the universe. They give us important information about the cosmos. Let's look at some important missions and what they have taught us:

1. Hubble Space Telescope (1990-present):

   • This telescope has made over 1.5 million observations of space.
   • It helped scientists figure out how fast the universe is expanding. This research led to the discovery of dark energy, which makes up about 68% of the universe.

2. Mars Rover Missions (Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity):

   • These rovers found signs that there was once water on Mars. This suggests that Mars might have had the right conditions for life before.
   • Curiosity discovered that there were times when Mars was warm and wet. This changed how we think about whether life could exist there.

3. Kepler Space Telescope (2009-2018):

   • Kepler found more than 2,600 planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets.
   • It showed that there might be billions of Earth-sized planets in the right spots around stars in our galaxy that could support life.

4. Parker Solar Probe (2018-present):

   • This spacecraft is the closest one to the Sun, studying solar winds from less than 4 million miles away.
   • Its goal is to learn more about solar activities that can affect satellites and our communication on Earth.

These missions and their discoveries have completely changed our view of space. They help us learn more about planets, the possibility of life beyond Earth, and how the universe is built and changes over time.