How did technological advances make exploration of distant lands possible

The improvements in weapons, ships, clothing, rocketry and underwater techniques helped with the improvement of navigation.  

Some of the world’s most important explorers used astrolabes on the expeditions to faraway lands. The astrolabe was used by Christopher Columbus in his voyage to the Americas. Ferdinand Magellan and his crew relied also on an astrolabe during the first circumnavigation of Earth. Many Arab travellers used it too to navigate the desert.  

In the 16th century, before the invention of the telescope, Tycho Brahe (Danish astronomer) constructed an astrolabe with a radius of 10 ft. Until superseded by the sextant during the 18th century, smaller types of astrolabes were the principal instruments used by navigators.  

Sailors used the stars for guidance. For measuring the altitude of celestial bodies to determine ship position, they used some instruments like octants and sextants. The octant was used to work out the latitude but not longitude. In 1757 it was succeeded by the sextant, which could measure both.

Technological Advances made exploration of distant lands possible because primitive means of transportation wouldn't make traveling to distant places feasible in a decent amount of time.

Advancements in navigation, such as the astrolabe, made it possible to understand your position in the world using the sun as reference.

Ships like the Caravels, that were lighter and faster, and had different steering and sailing systems also helped make the Age of Exploration possible.

More recently, the invention of the rocket, made it possible for humans to go outside of the planet and step on the moon.

All of our great accomplishments were made possible by technological advances, so, it's safe to say that they're VITAL for human exploration.