The value of exploring the unknown is gaining knowledge. When we explore the unknown we gain the knowledge to answer questions we previously couldn't.  Society has advanced by teaching our findings to children in school, so that they can become educated and inspired people. People can also advance on a personal level from exploring the unknown, going to therapy improving their relationship with themselves and others, enriching their mind, etc. 

A good example of this is NASA because they have worked to advance what we know now about the vast deep darkness of the solar system for decades. They encourage and promote how curiosity keeps us wondering what we will find next and different solutions needed to go beyond. Like the mission of how to find if mars is habitable each time again they keep striving until that goal is met.

• They landed a rover robot on Mars which helps them learn more and collect data about the planet.

• Over the years NASA has sent many astronauts into space

• Their data and discoveries have been written into text books.