I was looking around and i thought wow i would be cool if i could try and do some of this. I have no idea what to do when it comes to modding but i wanna see if i can change a few things around at first then get into some bigg stuff.
What are some good, easy to use, modding programs that i could get my hands on
There are no programs.
You need to download SDK, read tutorials from TLR and get started somehow. Everyone starts in a different way.
Freelancer Explorer is a program for creating systems, but if you don't know how Freelancer ini files work, you won't ever make anything good with it. Believe me.
Good thinking man, I have about 10 differant versions of discovery that I tinkered with. :P
There acutally are a few programs, FLSE (Freelancer system editor) but thats for after you know a bit about FLE (Freelancer explorer) another freelancer system editor. There is also SDK like igiss said. I use FLFE ( freelancer faction editor) to do factions, it so easy its almost easer that making a patrol route, the thing is you have to know how to say English in German, becase you will have to click that button in FLFE to change the lauange. xD