Launches
This is a list of spaceflights launched in 1981.
| ← Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec → |
| Date and time (UTC) |
Rocket | Site | LSP | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) |
Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 January, 12:15 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1237 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 20 January 1981 | Successful | |
| 9 January, 14:57 UTC | Molniya-M/ML (R-7 8K78M/ML) |
LC-41/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Molniya 3-14 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | 3 July 1999 | Successful | |
| 10 January, 18:22 UTC | Nike Tomahawk | Siple Station, Ellsworth Island | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Ionospheric research | 10 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 198 km (123 mi) | |
| 14 January, 22:00 UTC | TT-500A | LA-T, Tanegashima | NASDA | NASDA | Sub-orbital | Test rocket | 14 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 300 km (190 mi) | |
| 16 January, 09:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M (R-14 11K65M) |
LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1238 (Taifun-1) | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 16 January, 12:00 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1239 (Zenit-4MT) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 28 January 1981 | Successful | |
| 19 January, 03:37 UTC | Black Brant VB | Fort Churchill | NRCC | NRCC | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 19 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 263 km (163 mi) | |
| 20 January, 04:50 UTC | Astrobee-F | White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 20 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 209 km (130 mi) | |
| 20 January, 11:00 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
LC-31/6, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1240 (Yantar-2K) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 17 February 1981 | Successful | |
| 21 January, 00:25 UTC | Black Brant 8C | White Sands | NASA | SPAR-9 | NASA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 21 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 209 km (130 mi) |
| 21 January, 08:29 UTC | Kosmos-3M (R-14 11K65M) |
LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1241 (DS-P1-M) | MO SSSR | LEO | ASAT target | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 21 January, 21:46 UTC | S-310 | Kagoshima | ISAS | ISAS | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 21 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 174 km (108 mi) | |
| 23 January, 11:20 UTC | Tsyklon-3 (R-36 11K68) |
LC-32/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Geo-IK S/N 1 | MO SSSR | Intended: MEO | Geodetics | 23 January 1981 | Failure | Fairing failed to separate |
| 24 January, 14:18 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
LC-1/5, Baikonur | RVSN | Progress 12 | MOM | LEO, docked to Salyut 6 | Resupply Salyut 6 | 20 March 1981, 16:58:58 UTC | Successful | |
| 26 January, 07:20 UTC | Black Brant IVB | Fort Churchill | NRCC | NRCC | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 26 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 584 km (363 mi) | |
| 27 January, 14:58 UTC | Vostok-2M (R-7 8A92M) |
Plesetsk | Kosmos 1242 (Tselina-D) | MOM | LEO | SIGINT satellite | Still in orbit | Successful | ||
| 29 January, 04:12 UTC | Astrobee-F | Fort Churchill | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 29 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 189 km (117 mi) | |
| 29 January, 17:00 UTC | S-520 | LA-K, Kagoshima | ISAS | TPE-2 | ISAS | Sub-orbital | Ionospheric/tether research | 29 January 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 323 km (201 mi) |
| 30 January, 16:27 UTC | Molniya-M/ML (R-7 8K78M/ML) |
Plesetsk | RVSN | Molniya 1-49 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 2 February, 02:19 UTC | Tsyklon-2 (R-36 11K69) |
LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1243 (IS-A) | MO SSSR | LEO | ASAT test | 2 February 1981 | Failure | Intended to destroy Kosmos 1241, passed within 50 m (160 ft) of target, failed to explode. |
| 4 February, 01:10 UTC | Aries | LC-36, White Sands | US Air Force | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | ABM technology development | 4 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 387 km (240 mi) | |
| 4 February, 05:00 UTC | Centaure | Thumba | ISRO | ISRO | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 4 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| 4 February, 15:00 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-141 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 4 February 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 4 February, 15:33 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-139 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 4 February 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 4 February, 15:53 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-140 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 4 February 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 5 February, 11:25 UTC | Sergeant | Poker Flat | US Air Force | FWIF IV | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 5 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 130 km (81 mi) |
| 6 February, 08:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M (R-14 11K65M) |
LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Interkosmos-21 | Interkosmos | LEO | Technology development | 7 July 1982 | Successful | Deactivated 2 June 1982 |
| 7 February, 20:13:45 UTC | Petrel 2 | Esrange | SERC | SERC | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 7 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 140 km (87 mi) | |
| 7 February, 20:30 UTC | Nike Orion | Kiruna | SSC | OXYGEN | SSC | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 7 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 120 km (75 mi) |
| 9 February | Minuteman III | LF-08, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-79GM | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | ICBM test | 9 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 km (810 mi) |
| 9 February | Minuteman III | LF-09, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-80GM | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | ICBM test | 9 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 km (810 mi) |
| 11 February, 08:30 UTC | N-II | LA-N, Tanegashima | NASDA | Kiku 3 (ETS-4) | NASDA | MEO | Test carrier rocket/technology development | Still in orbit | Successful | Maiden flight of N-II |
| 12 February, 05:27 UTC | Centaure 2B | Thumba | ISRO | ISRO | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 12 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 158 kilometers (98 mi) | |
| 12 February, 18:21 UTC | Kosmos-3M (R-14 11K65M) |
LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1244 (Parus) | MO SSSR | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 13 February, 11:15 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1245 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance satellite | 27 February 1981 | Successful | |
| 13 February, 17:15 UTC | Black Brant 8C | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Solar research | 13 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 265 km (165 mi) | |
| 17 February, 17:15 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-143 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 17 February 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 17 February, 17:51 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-142 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 17 February 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 17 February, 19:17 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-144 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 17 February 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 18 February, 09:00 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
LC-31/6, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1246 (Yantar-1KFT) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 13 March 1981 | Successful | |
| 18 February | INTA-300 | El Arenosillo | INTA | INTA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 18 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 285 km (177 mi) | |
| 18 February | Minuteman IB | LF-06, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | ABRES IRS-1 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Test re-entry vehicle | 18 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 km (810 mi) |
| 19 February, 10:00 UTC | Molniya-M/2BL (R-7 8K78M/2BL) |
LC-16/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1247 (Oko) | MOM | Molniya | Missile early warning | Still in orbit | Successful so far | First launch from LC-16/2 |
| 21 February, 00:30 UTC | Mu-3S | LA-M, Kagoshima | ISAS | Hinotori (ASTRO-A) | ISAS | LEO | Solar research | 11 July 1991 | Successful | |
| 21 February, 23:23 UTC | Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D | LC-36A, Cape Canavaral | Comstar 4 (Parallax 1/Esiafi 1) | LMGT (1981–2001) SSC Parallax (2001–2002) Tongasat (2002—) |
GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | Renamed Parallax 1 in 2001 and Esiafi 1 in 2002 | |
| 21 February | Minuteman III | LF-26, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-81GM | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | ICBM test | 21 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 km (810 mi) |
| 25 February, 17:20 UTC | Sergeant-Hydac | Poker Flat | US Air Force | HAVE SLED | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 25 February 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 400 km (250 mi) |
| 28 February, 19:15 UTC | Titan 24B/Agena-D | SLC-4W, Vandenberg AFB | OPS 1166 (KH-8) | US Air Force/NRO | LEO | Reconnaissance | 20 June 1981 | Successful | ||
| 1 March, 09:20 UTC | OTRAG | Sabha | OTRAG | OTRAG | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 1 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| 5 March, 15:00 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
LC-41/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1248 (Yantar-2K) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 4 April 1981 | Successful | |
| 5 March, 16:48 UTC | Sergeant-Hydac | Poker Flat | US Air Force | HAVE SLED | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 5 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 400 km (250 mi) |
| 5 March, 18:09 UTC | Tsyklon-2 (R-36 11K69) |
LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1249 (US-A) | MO SSSR | LEO | Ocean reconnaissance | 19 July 1981 | Successful | |
| 6 March, 11:31 UTC | Kosmos-3M (R-14 11K65M) |
LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1250 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| Kosmos 1251 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1252 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1253 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1254 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1255 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1256 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1257 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| 7 March, 08:09 UTC | Taurus-Orion | Poker Flat | US Air Force | AURORAL E1 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 7 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 156 km (97 mi) |
| 7 March, 08:09 UTC | Taurus-Orion | Poker Flat | US Air Force | AURORAL E3 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy/Ionospheric/Plasma research | 7 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 203 km (126 mi) |
| 7 March, 08:26 UTC | Taurus-Orion | Poker Flat | US Air Force | AURORAL E2 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 7 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 169 km (105 mi) |
| 7 March, 08:38 UTC | Paiute-Tomahawk | Poker Flat | US Air Force | AURORAL E4 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 7 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 187 km (116 mi) |
| 8 March, 16:00 UTC | Nike Orion | Poker Flat | US Air Force | CWAS 1 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 8 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 140 km (87 mi) |
| 12 March, 04:30 UTC | Sergeant-Hydac | Poker Flat | US Air Force | HAVE SLED | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 12 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 400 km (250 mi) |
| 12 March, 19:00 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
LC-1/5, Baikonur | RVSN | Soyuz T-4, 2 cosmonauts | MOM | LEO, docked to Salyut 6 | Manned orbital flight | 25 May 1981, 12:37 UTC | Successful | Salyut 6 Expedition 6 |
| 13 March, 16:00 UTC | Nike Orion | Fort Churchill | NASA | CWAS 2 | NASA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 13 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 140 km (87 mi) |
| 14 March, 16:55 UTC | Tsyklon-2 (R-36 11K69) |
LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1258 (IS-A) | MO SSSR | LEO | ASAT test | 14 March 1981 | Failure | Intended to destroy Kosmos 1241. Spacecraft malfunction |
| 15 March | Minuteman IB | LF-03, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | ABERS TDV-4 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Test re-entry vehicle | 15 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 km (810 mi) |
| 16 March, 19:24 UTC | Titan IIIC | LC-40, Cape Canaveral | IMEWS 11 | US Air Force | GEO. Moved to Graveyard orbit after retirement | Missile early warning | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 1 January 1992 | |
| 17 March, 08:40 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
LC-31, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1259 (Zenit 6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 31 March 1981 | Successful | |
| 18 March, 04:40 UTC | Proton-K/DM | LC-200/40, Baikonur | RVSN | Raduga 8 | MOM | GEO. Moved to Graveyard orbit after retirement | Comsat | Still in orbit | Failure | Deactivated on 11 April 1981 |
| 20 March, 23:45 UTC | Tsyklon-2 (R-36 11K69) |
LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1260 (US-P/EORSAT) | MO SSSR | LEO | Ocean reconnaissance | 22 May 1982 | Successful | |
| 22 March, 14:58 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) |
LC-31/6, Baikonur | RVSN | Soyuz 39, 2 cosmonauts | MOM | LEO, docked to Salyut 6 | Manned orbital flight | 30 March 1981 | Successful | |
| 24 March, 03:00 UTC | Black Brant 8C | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 24 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 261 km (162 mi) | |
| 24 March, 03:31 UTC | Molniya-M | LC-41/1, Plesetsk Cosmodrome | RVSN | Molniya 3-15 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | 19 October 1992 | Successful | |
| 25 March, 08:05 UTC | Taurus-Tomahawk | Poker Flat | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 25 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee | |
| 28 March, 01:54 UTC | Black Brant VB | Fort Churchill | NRCC | FALCONS | NRCC | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 28 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 327 km (203 mi) |
| 28 March, 01:54 UTC | Black Brant IVB | Fort Churchill | NRCC | FALCONS | NRCC | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 28 March 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 675 km (419 mi) |
| 28 March, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-31/6, Baikonur | RVSN | Yantar-2K 979 | MOM | Intended: LEO | Reconnaissance satellite | 28 March 1981 | Failure | Carrier rocket malfunction, failed to orbit |
| 30 March, 05:52 UTC | Nike Orion | Poker Flat | DNA | LADY LOU Ba | DNA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 30 March 1981 | Successful | |
| 31 March, 09:40 UTC | Molniya-M | LC-41/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1261 (Oko) | MOM | Molniya | Missile defence | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 1 April, 09:04:35 UTC | Taurus-Tomahawk | Poker Flat | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 1 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) | |
| 1 April, 09:10 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS Simon Bolivar, ETR | US Navy | DASO-7 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 1 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 1 April | Minuteman III | LF-04, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-75GM2 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 1 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| 2 April | Taurus-Orion | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 2 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 200 kilometers (120 mi) | |
| 3 April, 06:20:55 UTC | Nike Orion | Poker Flat | DNA | DNA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 3 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 140 kilometers (87 mi) | |
| 3 April | Taurus-Orion | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 3 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 200 kilometers (120 mi) | |
| 4 April | Minuteman IB | LF-06, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | ABRES 500-PAS-1 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Re-entry test | 4 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| 7 April, 10:51 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1262 (Zenit-6) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 21 April 1981 | Successful | |
| 7 April, 14:00 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-146 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 7 April 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 7 April, 14:19 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-147 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 7 April 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 7 April, 14:40 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | FOT-148 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 7 April 1981 | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) | |
| 9 April, 12:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1263 (Taifun-1) | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 12 April, 12:00:03 UTC | Space Shuttle Columbia | LC-39A, Kennedy | United Space Alliance | STS-1, 2 astronauts | NASA | LEO | Manned orbital flight | 14 April 1981, 18:20:57 UTC | Successful | Maiden flight of Space Shuttle orbiter and Space Shuttle Columbia |
| DFI | NASA | LEO, attached to Columbia | Flight recorder | Successful | ||||||
| 15 April, 10:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1264 (Zenit-6) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 29 April 1981 | Successful | |
| 16 April, 11:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1265 (Zenit-6) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 28 April 1981 | Successful | |
| 18 April | MR-UR-100U | LC-172, Baikonur | RVSN | RVSN | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 18 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) | |
| 21 April, 03:45 UTC | Tsyklon-2 | LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1266 (US-A/RORSAT) | MO SSSR | LEO | Reconnaissance | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 24 April, 21:32 UTC | Titan 34B | SLC-4W, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | OPS-7225 (SDS-1) | US NRO | Molniya | Comsat | Still in orbit | Partial failure | |
| 25 April, 02:01 UTC | Proton-K | LC-200/39, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1267 (TKS-2) | MOM | LEO, docked to Salyut 6 | Technology demonstration | 29 July 1982 | Successful | |
| 27 April, 23:15 UTC | Aries | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 27 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 263 kilometers (163 mi) | |
| 28 April, 09:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1268 (Zenit-6) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 12 May 1981 | Successful | |
| 30 April, 06:00 UTC | Skylark 7 | LA-S, Esrange | DFVLR | TEXUS-3B | DFVLR | Sub-orbital | Microgravity research | 30 April 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 253 kilometers (157 mi) |
| 4 May, 07:55 UTC | Black Brant 8C | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | XRB-2 | NASA | Sub-orbital | X-Ray astronomy | 4 May 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 294 kilometers (183 mi) |
| 6 May, 08:00 UTC | Black Brant 8C | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 6 May 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 322 kilometers (200 mi) | |
| 7 May, 13:21 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1269 (Strela-2M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 8 May, 05:27 UTC | Skylark 7 | LA-S, Esrange | DFVLR | TEXUS 4 | DFVLR | Sub-orbital | Microgravity research | 8 May 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 258 kilometers (160 mi) |
| 14 May, 17:16:38 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-1/5, Baikonur | RVSN | Soyuz 40 | MOM | LEO, docked to Salyut 6 | Manned orbital flight | 22 May 1981 | Successful | |
| 14 May, 21:45 UTC | Vostok-2M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Meteor-2 | MOM | LEO | Weather satellite | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 15 May, 06:07:17 UTC | Scout G-1 | SLC-5, Vandenberg AFB | NASA | Nova 1 | US Navy | LEO (Polar) | Navigation | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 18 May, 11:50 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-31/6, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1270 (Yantar-2K) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 17 June 1981 | Successful | |
| 19 May, 03:49 UTC | Vostok-2M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1271 (Tselina-D) | MOM | LEO | ELINT | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 21 May, 09:10 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1272 (Zenit-6) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 4 June 1981 | Successful | |
| 22 May, 07:10 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1273 (Zenit-4MKT) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 4 June 1981 | Successful | |
| 22 May, 22:29 UTC | Delta 3914 | LC-17A, Cape Canaveral | NASA | GOES-5 | NOAA | GSO | Weather satellite | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 23 May, 22:42 UTC | Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D | LC-36B, Cape Canaveral | NASA | Intelsat 501 | Intelsat | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 27 May, 04:25 UTC | Black Brant VC | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 27 May 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 225 kilometers (140 mi) | |
| 31 May, 05:00 UTC | SLV | FLP, Sriharikota | ISRO | Rohini 2 | ISRO | LEO | Technology demonstration | 8 June 1981 | Failure | Placed in incorrect orbit, quickly decayed. |
| May | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| May | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| May | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| May | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| 3 June, 14:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1274 (Yantar-2K) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 3 July 1981 | Successful | |
| 3 June | SSBS S3 | BL-B, Biscarosse | DMA | DMA | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 3 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) | |
| 4 June, 15:41 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1275 (Parus) | MO SSSR | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 9 June, 03:33 UTC | Molniya-M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Molniya-3 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | 10 February 1998 | Successful | |
| 12 June | DOT | Kwajalein Atoll | US Air Force | DOT-4 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Test interceptor | 12 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 303 kilometers (188 mi) |
| 12 June | Minuteman III | LF-09, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-82GM | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 12 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| 16 June, 07:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1276 (Yantar-4MKT) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 29 June 1981 | Successful | |
| 17 June, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1277 (Zenit-6) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 1 July 1981 | Successful | |
| 19 June, 12:32:59 UTC | Ariane 1 | ELA-1, CSG | Arianespace | Meteosat 2 | ESA | GEO, then graveyard orbit | Weather satellite | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 4 December 1991 |
| Apple | ISRO | GEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 20 September 1983 | ||||
| CAT-3 | ESA | GTO | Flight data recorder | Still in orbit | Successful | Recorded carrier rocket performance | ||||
| 19 June, 19:37:04 UTC | Molniya-M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1278 (Oko) | MOM | Molniya | Missile detection | 2 September 2000 | Successful | |
| 19 June | Poseidon | USS Lewis and Clark, ETR | US Navy | FOT-43 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 19 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 19 June | Poseidon | USS Lewis and Clark, ETR | US Navy | FOT-43 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 19 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 19 June | Poseidon | USS Lewis and Clark, ETR | US Navy | FOT-43 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 19 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 19 June | Poseidon | USS Lewis and Clark, ETR | US Navy | FOT-43 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 19 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 23 June, 10:52:59 UTC | Atlas-F | SLC-3W, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | NOAA-7 | NOAA | LEO (SSO) | Weather satellite | Still in orbit | Successful so far | Final flight of Atlas-F |
| 24 June, 17:47 UTC | Molniya-M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Molniya-1 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | 14 December 1991 | Successful | |
| 25 June, 23:55 UTC | Proton-K/DM | LC-200/40, Baikonur | RVSN | Ekran-7 | MOM | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | Retired on 1 August 1982 |
| 26 June | Minuteman III | LF-26, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-83GB | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 26 June 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| June | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| June | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| June | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| June | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| 1 July, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1279 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 15 July 1981 | Successful | |
| 2 July, 07:10 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-43/3, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1280 (Resurs F1) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 15 July 1981 | Successful | |
| 7 July, 12:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1281 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 21 July 1981 | Successful | |
| 10 July, 05:14 UTC | Vostok-2M | Baikonur | RVSN | Meteor 1-31 (Meteor-Priroda) | MOM | LEO (SSO) | Weather satellite | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| Iskra | MOM | LEO (SSO) | Microgravity research | 16 April 1990 | Successful | |||||
| 11 July | Poseidon | USS George C. Marshall, ETR | US Navy | FOT-44 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 11 July 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 11 July | Poseidon | USS George C. Marshall, ETR | US Navy | FOT-44 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 11 July 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 11 July | Poseidon | USS George C. Marshall, ETR | US Navy | FOT-44 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 11 July 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 11 July | Poseidon | USS George C. Marshall, ETR | US Navy | FOT-44 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 11 July 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| 15 July, 13:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-31/6, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1282 (Yantar-2K) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 14 August 1981 | Successful | |
| 17 July, 08:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1283 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 31 July 1981 | Successful | |
| 29 July, 11:55 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1284 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 12 August 1981 | Successful | |
| 30 July, 21:38 UTC | Proton-K/DM | LC-200/39, Baikonur | RVSN | Raduga-9 | MOM | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 1 May 1986 |
| 31 July, 10:50 UTC | Aries | LC-36, White Sands | US Air Force | ZIP-II | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Infrared astronomy | 31 July 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 395 kilometers (245 mi) |
| July | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| July | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| July | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| 1 August, 22:00 UTC | TT-500A | LA-T, Tanegashima | NASDA | NASDA | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 1 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 300 kilometers (190 mi) | |
| 3 August, 09:56 UTC | Delta 3913 | SLC-2W, Vandenberg AFB | NASA | Dynamics Explorer 1 | NASA | HEO | Magnetosphere research | Still in orbit | Partial failure | |
| Dynamics Explorer 2 | NASA | HEO | Magnetosphere research | Still in orbit | Partial failure | |||||
| 4 August, 00:13 UTC | Molniya-M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1285 (Oko) | MOM | Molniya | Missile detection | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 4 August, 08:28 UTC | Tsyklon-2 | LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1286 (US-P/EORSAT) | MO SSSR | LEO | ELINT | 16 October 1982 | Successful | |
| 6 August, 08:16:00 UTC | Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D | LC-36A, Cape Canaveral | NASA | FLTSATCOM-5 | US Navy | GEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Partial failure | Damaged during ascent due to fairing problem, retired on 12 July 1986 |
| 6 August, 11:49 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1287 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| Kosmos 1288 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1289 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1290 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1291 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1292 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1293 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1294 (Strela-1M | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| 7 August, 13:35 UTC | Vostok-2M | LC-43/3, Plesetsk | RVSN | Interkosmos 22 (IKB-1300) | MOM | LEO | Ionosphere research | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 10 August 1983 |
| 9 August | Nike Orion | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 9 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 140 kilometers (87 mi) | |
| 9 August | Taurus-Orion | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 9 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 200 kilometers (120 mi) | |
| 10 August, 20:03 UTC | N-II | LA-N, Tanegashima | NASDA | GMS-2 (Himawari-2) | NASDA | GSO | Weather satellite | Still in orbit | Successful so far | Retired on 1 February 1988 |
| 12 August, 05:46 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1295 (Parus) | MO SSSR | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 13 August, 02:26 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS John C. Calhoun, ETR | US Navy | OT-6 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 13 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 13 August, 02:46 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS John C. Calhoun, ETR | US Navy | OT-6 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 13 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 13 August, 03:32 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS John C. Calhoun, ETR | US Navy | OT-6 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 13 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 13 August, 03:32 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS John C. Calhoun, ETR | US Navy | OT-6 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 13 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 13 August, 16:20 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1296 (Yantar-2K | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 13 September 1981 | Successful | |
| 14 August, 07:43 UTC | Black Brant X | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 14 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 625 kilometers (388 mi) | |
| 18 August, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1297 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 30 August 1981 | Successful | |
| 21 August, 10:20 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-1/5, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1298 (Yantar-4K1) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 2 October 1981 | Successful | |
| 22 August, 01:00 UTC | Poseidon | USS Nathanael Greene, ETR | US Navy | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 22 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) | |
| 24 August, 12:00 UTC | S-310 | Kagoshima | ISAS | ISAS | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy and Auroral research | 24 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 187 kilometers (116 mi) | |
| 24 August, 16:37 UTC | Tsyklon-2 | LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1299 (US-A/RORSAT) | MO SSSR | LEO | Naval reconnaissance | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 24 August, 21:40 UTC | Tsyklon-3 | LC-32/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1300 (Tselina-D) | MO SSSR | LEO | SIGINT | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 25 August | Taurus-Orion | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 25 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 200 kilometers (120 mi) | |
| 27 August, 10:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-41/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1301 (Resurs-F1) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance and remote sensing | 10 September 1981 | Successful | |
| 28 August, 00:03 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS Simon Bolivar, ETR | US Navy | OT-7 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 28 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 28 August, 00:04 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS Simon Bolivar, ETR | US Navy | OT-7 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 28 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 28 August, 00:04 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS Simon Bolivar, ETR | US Navy | OT-7 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 28 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 28 August, 00:04 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS Simon Bolivar, ETR | US Navy | OT-7 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 28 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
| 28 August, 16:18 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1302 (Strela-2M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 28 August | R-5V | Kapustin Yar | MO SSSR | Vertikal-9 | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Solar research | 28 August 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 500 kilometers (310 mi) |
| August | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| August | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| August | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| August | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | MO SSSR | MO SSSR | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch | Successful | Apogee: 150 kilometers (93 mi) | |
| 3 September, 18:29 UTC | Titan IIID | SLC-4E, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | OPS-3984 (KH-11) | US NRO | LEO (SSO) | Reconnaissance | 23 November 1984 | Successful | |
| 4 September, 08:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1303 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 18 September 1981 | Successful | |
| 4 September, 11:06 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1304 (Tsikada) | MO SSSR | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 5 September, 01:00 UTC | S-520 | LA-K, Kagoshima | ISAS | ISAS | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 5 September 1981 | Successful | Payload recovered Apogee: 224 kilometers (139 mi) |
|
| 7 September, 09:38 UTC | S-310 | Kagoshima | ISAS | ISAS | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 7 September 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 193 kilometers (120 mi) | |
| 8 September | UR-100N | Baikonur | RVSN | RVSN | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 8 September 1981 | Failure | ||
| 11 September, 08:43 UTC | Molniya-M | LC-43/3, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1305 (Molniya-3) | MOM | Intended: Molniya Achieved: MEO |
Comsat | Still in orbit | Failure | Fourth stage malfunction resulted in incorrect orbit |
| 12 September | Minuteman IB | LF-06, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | ABRES Mk500-PAS-2 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Re-entry test | 12 September 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| 14 September, 20:31 UTC | Tsyklon-2 | LC-90, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1306 (US-P/EORSAT) | LEO | SIGINT | 16 July 1982 | Successful | ||
| 15 September, 11:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1307 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 29 September 1981 | Successful | |
| 18 September, 03:34 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1308 (Parus) | MO SSSR | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 18 September, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1309 (Zenit-4MT) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 1 October 1981 | Successful | |
| 18 September, 17:59:58 UTC | Vertikal | LC-107, Kapustin Yar | RVSN | Gruziya-60-Spurt | RVSN | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 18 September 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,514 kilometers (941 mi) |
| 19 September, 21:28:40 UTC | Feng Bao 1 | LA-2B, JSLC | CALT | Shi Jian 2 | CASC | LEO | Technology development | 17 August 1982 | Successful | |
| Shi Jian 2A | CASC | LEO | Technology development | 26 September 1981 | Successful | |||||
| Shi Jian 2B | CASC | LEO | Technology development | 6 October 1982 | Successful | |||||
| 21 September, 13:10 UTC | Tsyklon-3 | LC-32/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Oreol-3 (Arkad-3/IK-23) | RVSN/CNES | LEO | Magnetosphere research | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 23 September, 08:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1310 (Taifun) | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 3 April 1989 | Successful | |
| 24 September, 23:09 UTC | Delta 3910/PAM | LC-17A, Cape Canaveral | NASA | SBS-2 | SBS | GEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 7 September 1996 |
| 28 September, 21:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1311 (Taifun-2) | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 August 1983 | Successful | |
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 1 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 27 February 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 2 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 26 February 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 3 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 5 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 4 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 5 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 5 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 17 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 6 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 16 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 7 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 22 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 8 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 23 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 9 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 24 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 10 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 18 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 11 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 17 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 12 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 17 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 13 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 16 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 14 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 31 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 15 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 31 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 16 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 31 December 1982 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 17 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 18 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 19 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 20 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 21 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 22 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 23 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 24 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| Kosmos 1311 Romb 25 | MO SSSR | LEO | Radar calibration | 27 February 1983 | Successful | |||||
| 29 September | Topol | LC-167, Plesetsk | RVSN | RVSN | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 29 September 1981 | Successful | Maiden flight of Topol missile. Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) |
|
| 30 September, 08:00 UTC | Tsyklon-3 | LC-32/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1312 (Geo-IK) | MO SSSR | LEO | Geodetics research | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 30 September, 23:20:00 UTC | Black Brant 8C | Esrange | SSC | PIRAT | SSC | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 30 September 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 270 kilometers (170 mi) |
| 30 September | Black Brant VC | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Solar research | 30 September 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 243 kilometers (151 mi) | |
| 1 October, 09:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1313 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 15 October 1981 | Successful | |
| 4 October | Minuteman IB | LF-03, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | ABRES AMARV-3 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Re-entry test | 4 October 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| 6 October, 11:27 UTC | Delta 2310 | SLC-2W, Vandenberg AFB | NASA | SME | NASA | LEO (SSO) | Solar research | 5 March 1991 | Successful | |
| Oscar 9 (UoSAT-1/UO-9) | SSTL/UoSAT | LEO (SSO) | Technology demonstration Amateur radio |
13 October 1989 | Successful | |||||
| 9 October, 10:40 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-41/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1314 (Zenit-4MKT) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 22 October 1981 | Successful | |
| 9 October, 16:59 UTC | Proton-K/DM | LC-200/39, Baikonur | RVSN | Raduga 10 | MOM | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 1 October 1987 |
| 13 October, 23:01 UTC | Vostok-2M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1315 (Tselina-D) | MOM | LEO | SIGINT | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| 14 October | Nike Orion | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 14 October 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 140 kilometers (87 mi) | |
| 15 October, 09:15 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1316 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 29 October 1981 | Successful | |
| 16 October | Nike Tomahawk | White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 16 October 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 270 kilometers (170 mi) | |
| 17 October, 05:59 UTC | Molniya-M | LC-41/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Molniya-3-17 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | 9 January 1997 | Successful | |
| 17 October | Astrobee-F | White Sands | NASA | NASA/MIT | Sub-orbital | X-Ray astronomy | 17 October 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 200 kilometers (120 mi) | |
| 21 October | Pershing 1A | McGregor Range, Fort Bliss | US Air Force | AO-212 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 21 October 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 250 kilometers (160 mi) |
| 25 October, 19:01:00 UTC | Nike Tomahawk | Andøya | NDRE | Ferdinand-51 | NDRE | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 25 October 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 184 kilometers (114 mi) |
| 30 October, 06:04 UTC | Proton-K/D-1 | LC-200/40, Baikonur | RVSN | Venera 13 Bus | MOM | Heliocentric | Venus flyby | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| Venera 13 Lander | MOM | Heliocentric | Venus lander | 1 March 1982 | Successful | |||||
| 31 October, 09:22:00 UTC | Titan IIIC | LC-40, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | OPS-4029 (Chalet/Vortex) | US NRO | GEO | ELINT | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 31 October, 22:54 UTC | Molniya-M | LC-16/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1317 (Oko) | MOM | Molniya | Missile detection | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 3 November, 13:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-41/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1318 (Yantar-2K) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 4 December 1981 | Successful | |
| 4 November, 05:31 UTC | Proton-K/D-1 | LC-200/39, Baikonur | RVSN | Venera 14 Bus | MOM | Heliocentric | Venus flyby | Still in orbit | Successful | |
| Venera 14 Lander | MOM | Heliocentric | Venus lander | 5 March 1982 | Partial failure | Lens cover ejected on ground under surface sampling arm, preventing arm from reaching the surface. | ||||
| 7 November, 12:03:40 UTC | Sergeant | Poker Flat | US Air Force | FWIF-V | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 7 November 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 130 kilometers (81 mi) |
| 9 November | Taurus-Orion | LC-36, White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 9 November 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 200 kilometers (120 mi) | |
| 12 November, 15:09:59 UTC | Space Shuttle Columbia | LC-39A, Kennedy | United Space Alliance | STS-2, 2 astronauts | NASA | LEO | Manned orbital flight | 14 November 1981, 21:23:11 UTC | Successful | First manned spacecraft to make two orbital flights. |
| DFI | NASA | LEO, attached to Columbia | Flight recorder | Successful | ||||||
| OSTA-1 (SIR-A) | NASA | LEO, attached to Columbia | Remote sensing | Successful | ||||||
| 13 November, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1319 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 27 November 1981 | Successful | |
| 15 November, 17:50 UTC | Trident C-4 | USS Benjamin Franklin, ETR | US Navy | DASO-8 | US Navy | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 15 November 1981 | Failure | Apogee: 20 kilometers (12 mi) |
| 17 November, 15:25 UTC | Molniya-M | Plesetsk | RVSN | Molniya-1-51 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | 2 November 1993 | Successful | |
| 17 November | Black Brant 8B | White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | X-Ray astronomy | 17 November 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 253 kilometers (157 mi) | |
| 17 November | Black Brant 8B | White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | X-Ray astronomy | 17 November 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 253 kilometers (157 mi) | |
| 20 November, 01:37 UTC | Delta 3910/PAM | LC-17A, Cape Canaveral | NASA | Satcom 3R (Satcom 4) | RCA Americom | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 10 April 1991 |
| 20 November, 08:30 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-107/2, Kapustin Yar | RVSN | Bhaskara 2 | ISRO | LEO | Earth observation | 30 November 1991 | Successful | |
| 23 November | Black Brant 8C | White Sands | NASA | NASA | Sub-orbital | Solar research | 23 November 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 322 kilometers (200 mi) | |
| 24 November | Minuteman III | LF-09, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-84GM1 | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 24 November 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| 28 November, 18:08 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1320 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| Kosmos 1321 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1322 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1323 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1324 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1325 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1326 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Kosmos 1327 (Strela-1M) | MO SSSR | LEO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| 1 December, 01:38 UTC | Black Brant X | Cape Parry | NASA | CENTAUR | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 1 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 612 kilometers (380 mi) |
| 1 December, 15:50:00 UTC | Petrel | Esrange | SRC | SRC | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 1 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 187 kilometers (116 mi) | |
| 1 December | R-39 Rif | Nonoksa | RVSN | RVSN | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 1 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) | |
| 3 December, 11:47 UTC | Tsyklon-3 | LC-32/1, Plesetsk | RVSN | Kosmos 1328 (Tselina-D) | MO SSSR | LEO | SIGINT | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 4 December, 09:50 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1329 (Zenit-6U) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 18 December 1981 | Successful | |
| 6 December, 23:14:58 UTC | Black Brant IVB | Cape Parry | NRCC | CENTAUR | NRCC | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 6 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 615 kilometers (382 mi) |
| 7 December, 00:00:40 UTC | Terrier-Malemute | Cape Parry | NASA | CENTAUR | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 7 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 451 kilometers (280 mi) |
| 7 December | Dong Feng 5 | LA-2B, JSLC | CALT | CALT | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 7 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) | |
| 8 December | Aerobee 150 | LC-35, White Sands | NASA | UM Airglow | NASA | Sub-orbital | Magnetosphere research | 8 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 200 kilometers (120 mi) |
| 9 December, 17:17:00 UTC | Petrel 2 | Esrange | SRC | SRC | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 9 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 188 kilometers (117 mi) | |
| 9 December, 21:25:35 UTC | Skylark 7 | LA-S, Esrange | DFVLR | ENERGY-EB2 | DFVLR | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere/Plasma research | 9 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 237 kilometers (147 mi) |
| 9 December | Minuteman III | LF-26, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GT-85GB | US Air Force | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 9 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,300 kilometers (810 mi) |
| 10 December | Sonda-3 | Natal | IAE | IAE | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 10 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 239 kilometers (149 mi) | |
| 13 December, 21:31:38 UTC | Black Brant IVB | Cape Parry | NRCC | CENTAUR | NRCC | Sub-orbital | Auroral research | 13 December 1981 | Failure | Apogee: 50 kilometers (31 mi) |
| 13 December, 22:54:25 UTC | Black Brant X | Cape Parry | NASA | CENTAUR | NASA | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 13 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 662 kilometers (411 mi) |
| 15 December, 23:35 UTC | Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D | LC-36B, Cape Canaveral | NASA | Intelsat 503 | Intelsat | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| 16 December, 14:10:00 UTC | Petrel | Esrange | SRC | LITHIUM | SRC | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 16 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 187 kilometers (116 mi) |
| 17 December, 11:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | RVSN | Radio-Sputnik 3 | Iskra | LEO | Amateur radio | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |
| Radio-Sputnik 8 | Iskra | LEO | Amateur radio | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Radio-Sputnik 5 | Iskra | LEO | Amateur radio | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Radio-Sputnik 4 | Iskra | LEO | Amateur radio | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Radio-Sputnik 7 | Iskra | LEO | Amateur radio | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| Radio-Sputnik 6 | Iskra | LEO | Amateur radio | Still in orbit | Successful so far | |||||
| 19 December, 01:10 UTC | Atlas-E/SVS | SLC-3E, Vandenberg AFB | US Air Force | GPS-7 (Navstar-7) | US Air Force | Intended: MEO | Prototype navigation satellite | 19 December 1981 | Failure | Failed to reach orbit |
| 19 December, 11:50 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-31/6, Baikonur | RVSN | Kosmos 1330 (Yantar-2K) | MOM | LEO | Reconnaissance | 19 January 1982 | Successful | |
| 19 December, 20:00 UTC | Petrel | El Arenosillo | INTA | FOCCA-I | INTA | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 19 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 106 kilometers (66 mi) |
| 20 December, 01:29:00 UTC | Ariane 1 | ELA-1, CSG | Arianespace | Marecs 1 | Inmarsat | GEO, then Graveyard orbit | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful | Retired on 20 August 1996 |
| CAT-4 | ESA | GTO | Flight data recorder | Still in orbit | Successful | |||||
| Technological Capsule (ESA/81/04) | ESA | GTO | Flight data recorder | 21 November 1988 | Successful | |||||
| 21 December, 18:37 UTC | Vertikal | LC-107, Kapustin Yar | RVSN | Vertikal-10 | RVSN | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy/Ionosphere research | 21 December 1981 | Successful | Apogee: 1,500 kilometers (930 mi) |
| 23 December, 13:15 UTC | Molniya-M | Baikonur | RVSN | Molniya-1-52 | MOM | Molniya | Comsat | Still in orbit | Successful so far |
| ← Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec → |
Read more about this topic: 1981 In Spaceflight