Improvements in all of the items in this list were first made possible by
a) space exploration.
b) internet providers.
c) religious institutions.
d) automobile manufacturers.

If this is helpful to answering the question the improvements were:

Explanation:

computers

heat resistant materials

breathing systems for fire fighters

food-growing technologies

I think its space exploration as these were better computers were needed to calculate trajectories and heat resistant materials were needed so astronauts didn't burn up on entry. Food growing tech would've been needed because they would need to grow food eventually in space, so all of their food didn't run out. Breathing systems for firefighters would've been for astronauts walking in space's atmosphere, or rather lack thereof. It makes sense but I don't know for a fact. Still I hope this helps :3