MT meaning in Space Science ?

Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording, made of a thin, magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic film. It was developed in Germany in 1928, based on magnetic wire recording. Devices that record and playback audio and video using magnetic tape are tape recorders and video tape recorders respectively. A device that stores computer data on magnetic tape is known as a tape drive.

Magnetic tape revolutionized sound recording and reproduction and broadcasting. It allowed radio, which had always been broadcast live, to be recorded for later or repeated airing. It allowed gramophone records to be recorded in multiple parts, which were then mixed and edited with tolerable loss in quality. It was a key technology in early computer development, allowing unparalleled amounts of data to be mechanically created, stored for long periods, and rapidly accessed. The Videotape recorder which used magnetic tape allowed TV stations to gather news, timeshift and record content without having to use or develop relatively expensive and single-use film stock while allowing for the tape to be reused.

While good for short term use, magnetic tape is highly prone to disintegration. Depending on the environment, this process may begin after 10-20 years.