The USAF added a multi-channel microwave imager, the SSM/I, to the F-8 DMSP satellite. The SSM/I instrument was designed for remote sensing of rain rates, precipitation amount, total water vapor content, cloud water, surface wind, soil moisture, sea ice, snow cover, and other types of surface information. This new microwave imager complemented the existing high-resolution visible and infrared imager (OLS), the infrared sounder (SSH), and the microwave sounder (SSM/T).