The Lunar Farside Technosignature and Transient Telescope (LFT3)

Humanity is on the verge of being able to observe the cosmos from the moon with sufficient accuracy in order to gain a deeper understanding of astrophysical processes. This necessitates a transition from earth-based observatories to space-based telescopes. We are at a tipping point in having cost-effective access to space which will enable many nations to send experiments to the lunar surface and orbit. This provides opportunities for new science but will also bring RFI sources to the quietest remaining near-earth location. Until the moon also becomes crowded with sources of radio emission, the lunar farside offers a unique environment to measure radiation from the Universe with essentially zero radio frequency interference. We describe a multi-band telescope to be landed near the lunar antipode within five years to conduct initial baseline observations in the absence of RFI. The Lunar Farside Technosignatures and Transients Telescope (LFT3) will search the farside sky for radio emissions from known and unknown sources and create a historical record of lunar radio observations from the current pristine silence to a more crowded environment as further instruments are deployed. LFT3 is a once-in-human-history opportunity to record signals in a fully quiet environment.