# 1971 in spaceflight

1971 saw the last three known deaths of cosmonauts of the Soviet space program and the only deaths in space. Their mission was to man humanity's first space station. The experimental bay door failed to separate so the first crew failed to dock and second crew were killed on re-entry. 1971 also saw the launch of the first and only British satellite on top of a British rocket after that success the program was cancelled.

## Orbital launches

* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| January ||||||||
| 12 January 09:30 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 12 January 09:30 | | Kosmos 390 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 25 January | Successful |
| 14 January 12:00:00 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 14 January 12:00:00 | | Kosmos 391 (DS-P1-I No.10) | | Low Earth | Radar target | 21 February 1972 | Successful |
| 20 January 11:24:00 | Vostok-2M | Vostok-2M | | Plesetsk 41/1 | Plesetsk 41/1 | | |
| 20 January 11:24:00 | | Meteor 1-07 (Meteor-M) | | Sun-synchronous | Weather | 14 July 2005 | Successful |
| 21 January 08:40 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 21 January 08:40 | | Kosmos 392 (Zenit-2M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 2 February | Successful |
| 21 January 18:20 | Titan III(23)B | Titan III(23)B | | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Vandenberg SLC-4W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 21 January 18:20 | | OPS 7776 (Gambit-3 4330) | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 9 February | Successful |
| 21 January 18:20 | | OPS 7776 SRV-1 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | January | Successful |
| 21 January 18:20 | | OPS 7776 SRV-2 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | February | Successful |
| 26 January 00:36:03 | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | | Cape Kennedy LC-36A | Cape Kennedy LC-36A | | |
| 26 January 00:36:03 | | Intelsat IV F-2 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 26 January 12:44:33 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 26 January 12:44:33 | | Kosmos 393 (DS-P1-Yu No.34) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 16 June | Successful |
| 31 January 21:03 | Saturn V | Saturn V | | Kennedy LC-39A | Kennedy LC-39A | NASA | NASA |
| 31 January 21:03 | | Apollo 14 CSM | NASA | Selenocentric | Lunar orbiter | 9 February 21:05 | Successful |
| 31 January 21:03 | | Apollo 14 LM | NASA | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | 5 February 09:17 | Successful |
| Crewed flight with three astronauts, third crewed Lunar landing ||||||
| February ||||||||
| 3 February 01:41:40 | Delta M | Delta M | | Cape Kennedy LC-17A | Cape Kennedy LC-17A | | |
| 3 February 01:41:40 | | NATO-2B | NATO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| Final flight of Delta M ||||||
| 9 February 18:48:48 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 9 February 18:48:48 | | Kosmos 394 (DS-P1-M No.2) | | Low Earth | ASAT target | 25 February (destroyed) | Successful |
| Destroyed by Kosmos 397, debris still in orbit ||||||
| 16 February 04:00:00 | Mu-3S | Mu-3S | | Kagoshima LA-M | Kagoshima LA-M | ISAS | ISAS |
| 16 February 04:00:00 | | Tansei 1 | ISAS | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful |
| 17 February 03:52:05 | Thor LV-2F Burner II | Thor LV-2F Burner II | | Vandenberg SLC-10W | Vandenberg SLC-10W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 February 03:52:05 | | OPS 5268 (DAPP-5A F-3) | US Air Force | Low Earth | Weather | In orbit | Successful |
| 17 February 03:52:05 | | Calsphere 3 (NRL PL-170A) | NRL | Low Earth | Calibration | 17 October 1989 | Successful |
| 17 February 03:52:05 | | Calsphere 4 (NRL PL-170B) | NRL | Low Earth | Calibration | 20 September 1989 | Successful |
| 17 February 03:52:05 | | Calsphere 5 (NRL PL-170C) | NRL | Low Earth | Calibration | 7 January 1990 | Successful |
| 17 February 20:04:30 | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | | Vandenberg SLC-3W | Vandenberg SLC-3W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 February 20:04:30 | | KH-4B No.1113 | NRO | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | +18 seconds | Launch failure |
| Engine failure due to chain of malfunctions caused by fuel additive loading error ||||||
| 17 February 21:09 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 17 February 21:09 | | Kosmos 395 (Tselina-OM) | | Low Earth | ELINT | 6 April 1980 | Successful |
| 18 February 13:59 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 18 February 13:59 | | Kosmos 396 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 3 March | Successful |
| 25 February 11:11 | Tsyklon-2 | Tsyklon-2 | | Baikonur 90/19 | Baikonur 90/19 | | |
| 25 February 11:11 | | Kosmos 397 (IS-A) | | Initial: Low Earth Final: Medium Earth | ASAT test | In orbit | Successful |
| Intercepted and destroyed Kosmos 394 ||||||
| 26 February 05:06 | Soyuz-L | Soyuz-L | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 26 February 05:06 | | Kosmos 398 (LK T2K No.2) | | Deployed: Low Earth Final: Medium Earth | Test flight | 10 December 1995 | Successful |
| March ||||||||
| 3 March 09:30 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 3 March 09:30 | | Kosmos 399 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 17 March | Successful |
| 3 March 12:15 | Long March 1 | Long March 1 | | Jiuquan LA-2A | Jiuquan LA-2A | | |
| 3 March 12:15 | | Shijian 1 | | Low Earth | Technology | 17 June 1979 | Successful |
| 5 March 08:15:02 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Kapustin Yar 86/4 | Kapustin Yar 86/4 | | |
| 5 March 08:15:02 | | DS-P1-Yu No.39 | | Intended: Low Earth | Calibration | +133 seconds | Launch failure |
| Second stage malfunction, failed to orbit ||||||
| 5 March | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 5 March | | Zenit-2M | | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 March | Launch failure |
| 5 March | | Nauka 2KS No.3 | | Intended: Low Earth | | 5 March | Launch failure |
| 13 March 16:15:00 | Delta M6 | Delta M6 | | Cape Kennedy LC-17A | Cape Kennedy LC-17A | | |
| 13 March 16:15:00 | | Explorer 43 (IMP-6) | NASA | Highly elliptical | Gamma-ray astronomy | 2 October 1974 | Successful |
| Only flight of Delta M6 ||||||
| 18 March 21:45:00 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 18 March 21:45:00 | | Kosmos 400 (DS-P1-M No.3) | | Low Earth | ASAT target | 4 April (destroyed) | Successful |
| Destroyed by Kosmos 402, debris still in orbit ||||||
| 21 March 03:45 | Titan III(33)B | Titan III(33)B | | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Vandenberg SLC-4W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 21 March 03:45 | | OPS 4788 (Jumpseat) | NRO | Molniya | ELINT | In orbit | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Titan III(33)B, first Jumpseat satellite ||||||
| 24 March 21:05 | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | | Vandenberg SLC-3W | Vandenberg SLC-3W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 24 March 21:05 | | OPS 5300 (KH-4B No.1115) | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 12 April | |
| 27 March 10:59 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 27 March 10:59 | | Kosmos 401 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 9 April | Successful |
| April ||||||||
| 1 April 02:57:07 | Delta E1 | Delta E1 | | Vandenberg SLC-2E | Vandenberg SLC-2E | | |
| 1 April 02:57:07 | | ISIS 2 | CSA/NASA | Low Earth | Ionospheric | In orbit | Successful |
| Final flight of Delta E1 ||||||
| 1 April 11:29 | Tsyklon-2 | Tsyklon-2 | | Baikonur 90/20 | Baikonur 90/20 | | |
| 1 April 11:29 | | Kosmos 402 (US-A) | | Low Earth | Ocean surveillance | 6 May | Successful |
| 2 April 08:20 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 2 April 08:20 | | Kosmos 403 (Zenit-2M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 14 April | Successful |
| 4 April 14:27 | Tsyklon-2 | Tsyklon-2 | | Baikonur 90/19 | Baikonur 90/19 | | |
| 4 April 14:27 | | Kosmos 404 (IS-A) | | Low Earth | ASAT test | 4 April | Successful |
| Intercepted and destroyed Kosmos 400 ||||||
| 7 April 07:10 | Vostok-2M | Vostok-2M | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 7 April 07:10 | | Kosmos 405 (Tselina-D) | | Low Earth | ELINT | 3 November 2023 03:27 | Successful |
| 14 April 08:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 14 April 08:00 | | Kosmos 406 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 24 April | Successful |
| 15 April 09:19 | Diamant B | Diamant B | | Kourou ALD | Kourou ALD | CNES | CNES |
| 15 April 09:19 | | Tournesol | CNES | Low Earth | Ionospheric | 28 January 1980 | Successful |
| 17 April 11:44:58 | Vostok-2M | Vostok-2M | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 17 April 11:44:58 | | Meteor 1-08 (Meteor-M) | | Sun-synchronous | Weather | 10 January 1991 | Successful |
| 19 April 01:40:00 | Proton-K | Proton-K | | Baikonur 81/24 | Baikonur 81/24 | | |
| 19 April 01:40:00 | | Salyut 1 | | Low Earth | Space station | 11 October | Successful |
| First space station, visited by two crews. First crew failed to dock, second killed after departure ||||||
| 22 April 15:30 | Titan III(23)B | Titan III(23)B | | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Vandenberg SLC-4W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 22 April 15:30 | | OPS 7899 (Gambit-3 4331) | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 13 May | Successful |
| 22 April 15:30 | | OPS 7899 SRV-1 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | April/May | Successful |
| 22 April 15:30 | | OPS 7899 SRV-2 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | May | Successful |
| Final flight of Titan III(23)B ||||||
| 22 April 23:54:06 | Soyuz | Soyuz | | Baikonur 1/5 | Baikonur 1/5 | | |
| 22 April 23:54:06 | | Soyuz 10 | | Low Earth (Salyut 1) | Crewed | 24 April 23:40:00 | Spacecraft failure |
| Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. First mission to dock with a space station, aborted after spacecraft failed to achieve hard dock with Salyut 1 ||||||
| 23 April 11:30 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 23 April 11:30 | | Kosmos 407 (Strela-2M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 24 April 07:32:29 | Scout B | Scout B | | San Marco mobile range, Kenya | San Marco mobile range, Kenya | CRS | CRS |
| 24 April 07:32:29 | | San Marco 3 | CRS / NASA | Low Earth | Atmospheric | 29 November | Successful |
| 24 April 11:15:02 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 24 April 11:15:02 | | Kosmos 408 (DS-P1-Yu No.37) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 29 December | Successful |
| 28 April 14:35 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 28 April 14:35 | | Kosmos 409 (Sfera) | | Low Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful |
| May ||||||||
| 5 May 07:43:01 | Titan III(23)C | Titan III(23)C | | Cape Kennedy LC-40 | Cape Kennedy LC-40 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 5 May 07:43:01 | | OPS 3811 (DSP SVN-3/IMEWS-2) | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Missile defence | In orbit | Successful |
| 6 May 06:20 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 6 May 06:20 | | Kosmos 410 (Zenit-2M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 18 May | Successful |
| 6 May 06:20 | | Nauka 8KS No.1 | | Low Earth | | 25 May | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 411 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 412 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 413 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 414 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 415 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 416 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 417 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 7 May 14:20 | | Kosmos 418 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 9 May 01:11:02 | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | | Cape Kennedy LC-36A | Cape Kennedy LC-36A | | |
| 9 May 01:11:02 | | Mariner 8 | NASA | Intended: Areocentric | Mars orbiter | 9 May | Launch failure |
| Upper stage thrust vectoring failed due to gyroscope malfunction, failed to orbit ||||||
| 10 May 16:58:42 | Proton-K/D | Proton-K/D | | Baikonur 81/23 | Baikonur 81/23 | | |
| 10 May 16:58:42 | | Kosmos 419 (Mars 3MS No.170) | | Intended: Areocentric Achieved: Low Earth | Mars orbiter | 12 May | Launch failure |
| Blok D failed to ignite due to programming error; coast phase incorrectly entered in years instead of hours ||||||
| 18 May 08:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 18 May 08:00 | | Kosmos 420 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 29 May | Successful |
| 19 May 10:20:00 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 19 May 10:20:00 | | Kosmos 421 (DS-P1-Yu No.48) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 8 November | Successful |
| 19 May 16:22:44 | Proton-K/D | Proton-K/D | | Baikonur 81/24 | Baikonur 81/24 | | |
| 19 May 16:22:44 | | Mars 2 orbiter | | Areocentric | Mars orbiter | In orbit | Successful |
| 19 May 16:22:44 | | Mars 2 lander | | Heliocentric | Mars lander | 27 November | Spacecraft failure |
| Lander failed to achieve soft landing, instead impacting the planet ||||||
| 22 May 00:51 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 22 May 00:51 | | Kosmos 422 (Tsyklon) | | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful |
| 27 May 11:59:55 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 27 May 11:59:55 | | Kosmos 423 (DS-P1-Yu No.47) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 26 November | Successful |
| 28 May 10:30 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 28 May 10:30 | | Kosmos 424 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 10 June | Successful |
| 28 May 15:26:30 | Proton-K/D | Proton-K/D | | Baikonur 81/23 | Baikonur 81/23 | | |
| 28 May 15:26:30 | | Mars 3 orbiter | | Areocentric | Mars orbiter | In orbit | Successful |
| 28 May 15:26:30 | | Mars 3 lander | | Heliocentric | Mars lander | 2 December | Spacecraft failure |
| Lander failed 20 seconds after landing ||||||
| 29 May 03:49 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 29 May 03:49 | | Kosmos 425 (Tselina-OM) | | Low Earth | ELINT | 15 January 1980 | Successful |
| 30 May 22:23:04 | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | | Cape Kennedy LC-36B | Cape Kennedy LC-36B | | |
| 30 May 22:23:04 | | Mariner 9 | NASA | Areocentric | Mars orbiter | In orbit | Successful |
| First spacecraft to orbit Mars upon orbital insertion on 14 November. Deactivated on 27 October 1972 ||||||
| June ||||||||
| 4 June 18:10:00 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 4 June 18:10:00 | | Kosmos 426 (DS-U2-K No.1) | | Low Earth | Magnetospheric | 11 May 2002 | Successful |
| Ceased operations on 12 January 1972 ||||||
| 6 June 04:55:09 | Soyuz | Soyuz | | Baikonur 1/5 | Baikonur 1/5 | | |
| 6 June 04:55:09 | | Soyuz 11 | | Low Earth (Salyut 1) | Crewed | 29 June 23:16:52 | Spacecraft failure |
| Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. First mission to occupy a space station, and only mission to occupy Salyut 1. Crew killed by depressurisation of spacecraft during reentry ||||||
| 8 June 14:00:05 | Thor LV-2F Burner II | Thor LV-2F Burner II | | Vandenberg SLC-10W | Vandenberg SLC-10W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 8 June 14:00:05 | | SESP-1 (P70-1) | US Air Force/STP | Low Earth | Technology | 31 January 1982 | Successful |
| Final flight of Thor LV-2F Burner II ||||||
| 11 June 10:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 11 June 10:00 | | Kosmos 427 (Zenit-4MK) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 June | Successful |
| 15 June 18:41 | Titan III(23)D | Titan III(23)D | | Vandenberg SLC-4E | Vandenberg SLC-4E | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 15 June 18:41 | | OPS 8709 (Hexagon 1201) | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 6 August | Successful |
| 15 June 18:41 | | OPS 8709 SRV-1 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | 20 June | Partial spacecraft failure |
| 15 June 18:41 | | OPS 8709 SRV-2 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | 26 June | Successful |
| 15 June 18:41 | | OPS 8709 SRV-3 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | 10 July | Spacecraft failure |
| 15 June 18:41 | | OPS 8709 SRV-4 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | 15 July | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Titan IIID, first Hexagon satellite. SRV-1 recovered from water, SRV-3 lost due to parachute failure ||||||
| 24 June 07:59 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 24 June 07:59 | | Kosmos 428 (Zenit-2M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 6 July | Successful |
| 24 June 07:59 | | Nauka 1KS No.4 | | Low Earth | | 13 July | Successful |
| 25 June | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 25 June | | Zenit-4M | | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 25 June | Launch failure |
| 26 June 23:15:08 | N1 | N1 | | Baikonur 110/37 | Baikonur 110/37 | | |
| 26 June 23:15:08 | | Soyuz 7K-LOK mockup | | Intended: Highly elliptical | Test flight | +51 seconds | Launch failure |
| 26 June 23:15:08 | | LK mockup | | Intended: Highly elliptical | Test flight | +51 seconds | Launch failure |
| Loss of roll control, vehicle disintegrated at max Q ||||||
| July ||||||||
| 8 July 22:58:00 | Scout B | Scout B | | Wallops LA-3A | Wallops LA-3A | NASA | NASA |
| 8 July 22:58:00 | | Explorer 44 (Solrad 10) | NASA | Low Earth | Solar | 15 December 1979 | Successful |
| 16 July 01:41:36 | Vostok-2M | Vostok-2M | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 16 July 01:41:36 | | Meteor 1-09 (Meteor-M) | | Sun-synchronous | Weather | 27 August 1991 | Successful |
| 16 July 10:50 | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | | Vandenberg SLC-1W | Vandenberg SLC-1W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 16 July 10:50 | | OPS 8373 ("Heavy Ferret") | NRO | Low Earth | ELINT | 31 August 1978 | Successful |
| 20 July 10:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 20 July 10:00 | | Kosmos 429 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 2 August | Successful |
| 22 July | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 22 July | | Tselina-OM | | Intended: Low Earth | ELINT | 22 July | Launch failure |
| Failed to orbit ||||||
| 23 July 11:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 23 July 11:00 | | Kosmos 430 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 August | Successful |
| 26 July 13:34 | Saturn V | Saturn V | | Kennedy LC-39A | Kennedy LC-39A | NASA | NASA |
| 26 July 13:34 | | Apollo 15 CSM | NASA | Selenocentric | Lunar orbiter | 7 August 20:45:53 | Successful |
| 26 July 13:34 | | Apollo 15 LM | NASA | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | 30 July 22:16:29 | Successful |
| 26 July 13:34 | | PFS-1 | NASA | Selenocentric | Magnetospheric | 1974 | Successful |
| Crewed flight with three astronauts, fourth crewed lunar landing and first use of Lunar Roving Vehicle, subsatellite deployed on 4 August at 20:13 UTC ||||||
| 28 July 03:29 | Molniya-M/ML | Molniya-M/ML | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 28 July 03:29 | | Molniya 1-18 | | Molniya | Communications | 19 July 1977 | Successful |
| 30 July 08:29 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 30 July 08:29 | | Kosmos 431 (Zenit-2M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 11 August | Successful |
| August ||||||||
| 3 August 11:00:00 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 3 August 11:00:00 | | DS-P1-Yu No.33 | | Intended: Low Earth | Radar calibration | +204 seconds | Launch failure |
| Second stage malfunction, failed to orbit ||||||
| 5 August 10:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 5 August 10:00 | | Kosmos 432 (Zenit-4M) | GRU | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 18 August | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | Atlas E/F-OV1-PM | Atlas E/F-OV1-PM | | Vandenberg BMRS-A2 | Vandenberg BMRS-A2 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 August 00:11 | | OV1-20 | US Air Force | Low Earth | Ionospheric | 29 August | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | | OV1-21 | US Air Force | Low Earth | Ionospheric | 29 August | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | | LOADS-2 | US Air Force | Low Earth | Air density | 31 January 1972 | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | | RTDS | US Air Force | Low Earth | Air density | 19 September | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | | LCS 4 | US Air Force | Low Earth | Air density | In orbit | Operational |
| 7 August 00:11 | | Gridsphere 1 (P70-2/AVL-802) | US Air Force | Low Earth | Technology | 2 November 1979 | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | | Gridsphere 2 (P70-2/AVL-802) | US Air Force | Low Earth | Technology | 18 March 1979 | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | | Gridsphere B (P70-2/AVL-802) | US Air Force | Low Earth | Technology | 11 June 1972 | Successful |
| 7 August 00:11 | | Rigidsphere (P70-2/AVL-802) | US Air Force | Low Earth | Air density | 1 September 1981 | Successful |
| Two OV1 satellites deployed by independent upper stages, LOADS-2 shared upper stage with OV1-20, other payloads shared with OV1-21. All payloads passive other than OV1s. ||||||
| 8 August 23:45 | R-36OM | R-36OM | | Baikonur 191/66 | Baikonur 191/66 | | |
| 8 August 23:45 | | Kosmos 433 (OGCh) | RVSN | Low Earth | FOBS test | 9 August | Successful |
| Final flight of R-36OM, and FOBS programme ||||||
| 12 August 05:30 | Soyuz-L | Soyuz-L | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 12 August 05:30 | | Kosmos 434 (LK T2K No.3) | | Deployed: Low Earth Final: Medium Earth | Test flight | 23 August 1981 | Successful |
| Final flight of Soyuz-L ||||||
| 12 August 15:30 | Titan III(24)B | Titan III(24)B | | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Vandenberg SLC-4W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 12 August 15:30 | | OPS 8607 (Gambit-3 4332) | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 3 September | Successful |
| 12 August 15:30 | | OPS 8607 SRV-1 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | August | Successful |
| 12 August 15:30 | | OPS 8607 SRV-2 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | September | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Titan III(24)B ||||||
| 16 August 18:39:00 | Scout B-1 | Scout B-1 | | Wallops LA-3A | Wallops LA-3A | NASA | NASA |
| 16 August 18:39:00 | | Eole | CNES | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Scout B-1 ||||||
| 19 August | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 19 August | | Zenit-4M | | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 19 August | Launch failure |
| Failed to achieve orbit ||||||
| 27 August 10:54:56 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 27 August 10:54:56 | | Kosmos 435 (DS-P1-Yu No.41) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 28 January 1972 | Successful |
| September ||||||||
| 2 September 13:40:40 | Proton-K/D | Proton-K/D | | Baikonur 81/24 | Baikonur 81/24 | | |
| 2 September 13:40:40 | | Luna 18 | | Highly elliptical | Lunar sample return | 11 September | Spacecraft failure |
| Failed to achieve soft landing, instead impacting the moon ||||||
| 7 September 01:15 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 7 September 01:15 | | Kosmos 436 (Tselina-OM) | | Low Earth | ELINT | 4 January 1980 | Successful |
| 10 September 03:37 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 10 September 03:37 | | Kosmos 437 (Tselina-OM) | | Low Earth | ELINT | 29 March 1980 | Successful |
| 10 September 21:33 | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | | Vandenberg SLC-3W | Vandenberg SLC-3W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 10 September 21:33 | | OPS 5454 (KH-4B No.1115) | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 October | |
| 10 September 21:33 | | OPS 7681 (EHH-B) | NRO | Low Earth | ELINT | 3 February 1976 | |
| 14 September 13:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 14 September 13:00 | | Kosmos 438 (Zenit-4MK) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 June | Successful |
| 21 September 12:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 21 September 12:00 | | Kosmos 439 (Zenit-2M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 2 October | Successful |
| 24 September 10:30:00 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 24 September 10:30:00 | | Kosmos 440 (DS-P1-I No.11) | | Low Earth | Radar target | 29 October 1972 | Successful |
| 28 September 04:00:00 | Mu-3S | Mu-3S | | Kagoshima LA-M | Kagoshima LA-M | ISAS | ISAS |
| 28 September 04:00:00 | | Shinsei | ISAS | Low Earth | Solar Ionospheric | In orbit | Successful |
| 28 September 07:40 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 28 September 07:40 | | Kosmos 441 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 10 October | Successful |
| 28 September 10:00:22 | Proton-K/D | Proton-K/D | | Baikonur 81/24 | Baikonur 81/24 | | |
| 28 September 10:00:22 | | Luna 19 | | Selenocentric | Lunar orbiter | In orbit | Successful |
| 29 September 09:45:00 | Delta N | Delta N | | Cape Kennedy LC-17A | Cape Kennedy LC-17A | | |
| 29 September 09:45:00 | | OSO-7 | NASA | Low Earth | Solar | 9 July 1974 | Successful |
| 29 September 09:45:00 | | TETR-4 | NASA | Low Earth | Tracking target | 19 September 1978 | Successful |
| 29 September 11:30 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 29 September 11:30 | | Kosmos 442 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 12 October | Successful |
| October ||||||||
| 7 October 12:30 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 7 October 12:30 | | Kosmos 443 (Zenit-2M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 19 October | Successful |
| 7 October 12:30 | | Nauka 8KS No.2 | | Low Earth | | 30 October | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 444 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 445 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 446 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 447 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 448 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 449 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 450 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 13 October 13:41 | | Kosmos 451 (Strela-1M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 14 October 07:51:17 | Thor LV-2F Burner IIA | Thor LV-2F Burner IIA | | Vandenberg SLC-10W | Vandenberg SLC-10W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 October 07:51:17 | | OPS 4311 (DAPP-5B F-1) | US Air Force | Low Earth | Weather | In orbit | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Thor LV-2F Burner IIA ||||||
| 14 October 09:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 14 October 09:00 | | Kosmos 452 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 27 October | Successful |
| 17 October 13:36 | Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D | Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D | | Vandenberg SLC-1W | Vandenberg SLC-1W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 October 13:36 | | ASTEX (P71-2) | STP | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful |
| 19 October 12:40:01 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 19 October 12:40:01 | | Kosmos 453 (DS-P1-Yu No.44) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 19 March 1972 | Successful |
| 21 October 11:32:00 | Delta N6 | Delta N6 | | Vandenberg SLC-2E | Vandenberg SLC-2E | | |
| 21 October 11:32:00 | | ITOS-B | NOAA | Intended: Low Earth | Weather | 21 October | Launch failure |
| Final flight of Delta N6, oxidiser leak led to premature second stage cutoff. Debris reached orbit, however payload did not ||||||
| 23 October 17:01 | Titan III(24)B | Titan III(24)B | | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Vandenberg SLC-4W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 23 October 17:01 | | OPS 7616 (Gambit-3 4333) | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 17 November | Successful |
| 23 October 17:01 | | OPS 7616 SRV-1 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | October/November | Successful |
| 23 October 17:01 | | OPS 7616 SRV-2 | NRO | Low Earth | Film return | November | Successful |
| 28 October 04:09:29 | Black Arrow | Black Arrow | | Woomera LA-5B | Woomera LA-5B | RAE | RAE |
| 28 October 04:09:29 | | Prospero (X-3) | RAE | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful |
| First and only successful British orbital launch, final flight of Black Arrow and last orbital launch from Woomera ||||||
| November ||||||||
| 2 November 14:25 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 41/1 | Plesetsk 41/1 | | |
| 2 November 14:25 | | Kosmos 454 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 16 November | Successful |
| 3 November 03:09:06 | Titan III(23)C | Titan III(23)C | | Cape Kennedy LC-40 | Cape Kennedy LC-40 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 3 November 03:09:06 | | OPS 3431 (DSCS II A1) | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 3 November 03:09:06 | | OPS 9432 (DSCS II A2) | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | |
| 5 November 13:00 | Europa II | Europa II | | Kourou BEC | Kourou BEC | ELDO | ELDO |
| 5 November 13:00 | | STV-4 | ELDO | Intended: Geosynchronous transfer | Technology | 5 November | Launch failure |
| Third stage structural failure. Only flight of Europa II, and final flight of Europa family. Final launch conducted by ELDO, first launch from BEC (later ELA-1 and ELV) ||||||
| 15 November 05:52:00 | Scout B | Scout B | | San Marco mobile range, Kenya | San Marco mobile range, Kenya | CRS | CRS |
| 15 November 05:52:00 | | Explorer 45 (SSS-A) | NASA | Medium Earth | Magnetospheric | 10 January 1992 | Successful |
| Final flight of Scout B ||||||
| 17 November 11:09:48 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 17 November 11:09:48 | | Kosmos 455 (DS-P1-Yu No.54) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 9 April 1972 | Successful |
| 19 November 12:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 19 November 12:00 | | Kosmos 456 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 2 December | Successful |
| 20 November 18:00 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 20 November 18:00 | | Kosmos 457 (Sfera) | | Low Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful |
| 24 November 09:30 | Molniya-M/ML | Molniya-M/ML | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 24 November 09:30 | | Molniya 2-01 | | Molniya | Communications | 10 May 1976 | Successful |
| 29 November 10:09:56 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 29 November 10:09:56 | | Kosmos 458 (DS-P1-Yu No.53) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 20 April 1972 | Successful |
| 29 November 17:30:00 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 29 November 17:30:00 | | Kosmos 459 (DS-P1-M No.5) | | Low Earth | ASAT target | 3 December (destroyed) | Successful |
| Destroyed by Kosmos 462 ||||||
| 30 November 16:39 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 30 November 16:39 | | Kosmos 460 (Tselina-OM) | | Low Earth | ELINT | 5 March 1980 | Successful |
| December ||||||||
| 2 December 08:25:14 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Kapustin Yar 86/4 | Kapustin Yar 86/4 | | |
| 2 December 08:25:14 | | Interkosmos 5 (DS-U2-IK No.2) | Interkosmos | Low Earth | Ionosphere and magnetosphere research | 7 April 1972 | Successful |
| Cooperative project of Czechoslovakia and the USSR ||||||
| 2 December 17:30:01 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/1 | Plesetsk 132/1 | | |
| 2 December 17:30:01 | | Kosmos 461 (DS-U2-MT No.1) | | Low Earth | Micrometeoroid detection gamma-ray astronomy | 21 February 1979 | Successful |
| Ceased operations on 14 December 1972 ||||||
| 3 December 13:19 | Tsyklon-2 | Tsyklon-2 | | Baikonur 90/19 | Baikonur 90/19 | | |
| 3 December 13:19 | | Kosmos 462 (IS-A) | | Low Earth | ASAT test | 4 April 1975 | Successful |
| Intercepted and destroyed Kosmos 459 ||||||
| 3 December | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 3 December | | Zenit-2M | | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 3 December | Launch failure |
| 3 December | | Nauka 5KS No.2 | | Intended: Low Earth | | 3 December | Launch failure |
| 4 December 22:33 | Atlas SLV-3A Agena-D | Atlas SLV-3A Agena-D | | Cape Kennedy LC-13 | Cape Kennedy LC-13 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 4 December 22:33 | | Canyon | US Air Force | Intended: Geosynchronous | ELINT | 4 December | Launch failure |
| First stage malfunctioned, failed to orbit ||||||
| 5 December 16:20 | Diamant B | Diamant B | | Kourou ALD | Kourou ALD | CNES | CNES |
| 5 December 16:20 | | Polaire | CNES | Intended: Low Earth | Ionospheric | 5 December | Launch failure |
| Second stage malfunction, failed to orbit ||||||
| 6 December 09:50 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 6 December 09:50 | | Kosmos 463 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 11 December | Successful |
| 10 December 11:00 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Plesetsk 43/3 | Plesetsk 43/3 | | |
| 10 December 11:00 | | Kosmos 464 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 16 December | Successful |
| 11 December 20:47:01 | Scout B-1 | Scout B-1 | | Vandenberg SLC-5 | Vandenberg SLC-5 | NASA | NASA |
| 11 December 20:47:01 | | Ariel 4 | SRC | Low Earth | Ionospheric | 12 December 1978 | Successful |
| 14 December 12:13 | Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D | Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D | | Vandenberg SLC-1W | Vandenberg SLC-1W | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 December 12:13 | | OPS 7898 Payload 1 (Poppy) | NRO | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful |
| 14 December 12:13 | | OPS 7898 Payload 2 | NRO | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful |
| 14 December 12:13 | | OPS 7898 Payload 3 | NRO | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful |
| 14 December 12:13 | | OPS 7898 Payload 4 | NRO | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful |
| Final flight of Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D ||||||
| 15 December 04:31 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 15 December 04:31 | | Kosmos 465 (Tsyklon) | | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful |
| 16 December 09:39 | Voskhod | Voskhod | | Baikonur 31/6 | Baikonur 31/6 | | |
| 16 December 09:39 | | Kosmos 466 (Zenit-4M) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 18 August | Successful |
| 17 December 10:39:58 | Kosmos-2I | Kosmos-2I | | Plesetsk 133/1 | Plesetsk 133/1 | | |
| 17 December 10:39:58 | | Kosmos 467 (DS-P1-Yu No.45) | | Low Earth | Calibration | 18 April 1972 | Successful |
| 17 December 13:00 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 17 December 13:00 | | Kosmos 468 (Strela-2M) | | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 19 December 22:50 | Molniya-M/ML | Molniya-M/ML | | Plesetsk 41/1 | Plesetsk 41/1 | | |
| 19 December 22:50 | | Molniya 1-19 | | Molniya | Communications | 13 April 1977 | Successful |
| 20 December 01:10:04 | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | | Cape Kennedy LC-36A | Cape Kennedy LC-36A | | |
| 20 December 01:10:04 | | Intelsat IV F-3 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 25 December 11:30 | Tsyklon-2 | Tsyklon-2 | | Baikonur 90/20 | Baikonur 90/20 | | |
| 25 December 11:30 | | Kosmos 469 (US-A) | | Low Earth | Ocean surveillance | 9 February 1972 | Successful |
| BES-5 nuclear reactor ejected, and remains in orbit ||||||
| 27 December 14:04 | Soyuz-M | Soyuz-M | | Plesetsk 43/4 | Plesetsk 43/4 | | |
| 27 December 14:04 | | Kosmos 470 (Zenit-4MT) | | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 6 January 1972 | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Soyuz-M ||||||
| 27 December 19:00:00 | Kosmos-3M | Kosmos-3M | | Plesetsk 132/2 | Plesetsk 132/2 | | |
| 27 December 19:00:00 | | Oreol 1 (DS-U2-GKA No.1) | OKB-586/CNES | Medium Earth | Magnetospheric | In orbit | Successful |
| 29 December 10:50:01 | Vostok-2M | Vostok-2M | | Plesetsk 41/1 | Plesetsk 41/1 | | |
| 29 December 10:50:01 | | Meteor 1-10 (Meteor-MV) | | Sun-synchronous | Weather | In orbit | Successful |
* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →

## Launches from the Moon

| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 6 February 18:48 | Lunar Module Ascent Stage | Lunar Module Ascent Stage | | Fra Mauro (Luna) | Fra Mauro (Luna) | NASA | NASA |
| 6 February 18:48 | | Apollo 14 LM | NASA | Selenocentric (CSM) | Crewed | 7 February 00:46 | Successful |
| Carrying two astronauts back to CSM after lunar landing ||||||
| 2 August 17:11 | Lunar Module Ascent Stage | Lunar Module Ascent Stage | | Hadley-Apennine (Luna) | Hadley-Apennine (Luna) | NASA | NASA |
| 2 August 17:11 | | Apollo 15 LM | NASA | Selenocentric (CSM) | Crewed | 3 August 03:04 | Successful |
| Carrying two astronauts back to CSM after lunar landing ||||||

## Suborbital launches

| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| January-March ||||||||
| 13 January 20:10 | Black Brant II | Black Brant II | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 13 January 20:10 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 13 January | Successful |
| 21 January 02:32 | Black Brant VB | Black Brant VB | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 21 January 02:32 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Auroral/Ionospheric | 21 January | Successful |
| 22 January 04:44 | Black Brant VB | Black Brant VB | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 22 January 04:44 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Auroral/Ionospheric | 22 January | Successful |
| 26 January 17:23 | Black Brant VB | Black Brant VB | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 26 January 17:23 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Solar/Ionospheric | 26 January | Successful |
| 5 February 22:46 | Black Brant IVB | Black Brant IVB | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 5 February 22:46 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Auroral/Ionospheric | 5 February | Successful |
| 5 February 22:46 | Black Brant IVB | Black Brant IVB | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 5 February 22:46 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Auroral/Ionospheric | 5 February | Successful |
| 20 February 03:33 | Black Brant IVA | Black Brant IVA | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 20 February 03:33 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Auroral/Ionospheric | 20 February | Successful |
| 25 February 01:13 | Black Brant VB | Black Brant VB | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA |
| 25 February 01:13 | | | NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 February | Successful |
| 3 March 06:52 | Black Brant IVA | Black Brant IVA | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 3 March 06:52 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Auroral | 3 March | Successful |
| 20 March 03:24 | Black Brant II | Black Brant II | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 20 March 03:24 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Test flight Auroral/Ionospheric | 20 March | Successful |
| 20 March 03:24 | Black Brant II | Black Brant II | | Churchill | Churchill | NRC | NRC |
| 20 March 03:24 | | | NRC | Suborbital | Test flight Auroral/Ionospheric | 20 March | Successful |
| April-June ||||||||
| 5 April | Atlas E/F | Atlas E/F | | Vandenberg ABRES A-1 | Vandenberg ABRES A-1 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 5 April | | LAR-1 | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 5 April | Successful |
| 22 April 04:22 | K63D | K63D | | Vladimirovka test range, near Kapustin Yar | Vladimirovka test range, near Kapustin Yar | | |
| 22 April 04:22 | | BOR-2 No.103 | | Suborbital | Re-entry test for Spiral program | 22 April | Successful |
| Subscale model of the Spiral spaceplane. Apogee: 100 km ||||||
| 7 June 05:26 | Black Brant IVA | Black Brant IVA | | Churchill | Churchill | AFCRL | AFCRL |
| 7 June 05:26 | | | AFCRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 7 June | Successful |
| 20 June 22:45 | LGM-25C Titan II | LGM-25C Titan II | | Vandenberg LC-395C | Vandenberg LC-395C | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 20 June 22:45 | | SSTTP M1-17 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Target | 20 June | Successful |
| 29 June 10:12 | Atlas E/F-Trident | Atlas E/F-Trident | | Vandenberg ABRES A-3 | Vandenberg ABRES A-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 29 June 10:12 | | RVTO-2A-3 | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 29 June | Successful |
| July-September ||||||||
| 21 July 16:00 | Black Brant VC | Black Brant VC | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NASA | NASA |
| 21 July 16:00 | | | NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 July | Launch failure |
| 28 August 02:22 | LGM-25C Titan II | LGM-25C Titan II | | Vandenberg LC-395C | Vandenberg LC-395C | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 28 August 02:22 | | SSTTP M2-1 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Target | 28 August | Successful |
| 1 September | Atlas E/F | Atlas E/F | | Vandenberg BMRS A-1 | Vandenberg BMRS A-1 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 1 September | | LAR-2 | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 1 September | Successful |
| 4 September 13:52 | Black Brant IIIB | Black Brant IIIB | | Resolute Bay | Resolute Bay | NASA | NASA |
| 4 September 13:52 | | | NASA | Suborbital | Plasma physics | 4 September | Successful |
| 5 September 13:44 | Black Brant IIIB | Black Brant IIIB | | Resolute Bay | Resolute Bay | NASA | NASA |
| 5 September 13:44 | | | NASA | Suborbital | Plasma physics | 5 September | Successful |
| 10 September | Dongfeng 5 | Dongfeng 5 | | Jiuquan LA-2B | Jiuquan LA-2B | CALT | CALT |
| 10 September | | | CALT | Suborbital | Test flight | 10 September | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Dongfeng 5 ||||||
| 20 September 23:31 | Scout B | Scout B | 166CR | Wallops Island, LA-3A | Wallops Island, LA-3A | NASA | NASA |
| 20 September 23:31 | | Barium Ion Cloud (BIC) | MPE, NASA | Suborbital | Magnetosphere research | 21 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 31479 km ||||||
| October-December ||||||||
| 15 November | Dongfeng 4 | Dongfeng 4 | | Jiuquan | Jiuquan | People's Liberation Army 2nd Artillery Corps | People's Liberation Army 2nd Artillery Corps |
| 15 November | | | PLA | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 November | Successful |

## Deep space rendezvous in 1971

| Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
| 4 February | Apollo 14 | Entered selenocentric orbit | |
| 5 February 09:18:11 | Apollo 14 LM | Landing on the Moon | Landed in Fra Mauro region, returned 43 kg of rocks |
| 29 July | Apollo 15 | Entered selenocentric orbit | |
| 30 July 22:16:29 | Apollo 15 LM | Landing on the Moon; first crewed lunar rover | Landed in Hadley Rille region, returned 77 kg of rocks |
| 11 September | Luna 18 | Impacted the Moon | In Mare Fecunditatis, failed lander |
| 3 October | Luna 19 | Entered selenocentric orbit | |
| 14 November | Mariner 9 | Entered areocentric orbit | First orbiter of Mars and of another planet |
| 27 November | Mars 2 orbiter | Entered areocentric orbit | |
| 27 November | Mars 2 lander | First Mars impact | Failed soft lander |
| 27 November | Mars 3 orbiter | Entered areocentric orbit | |
| 27 November | Mars 3 lander | First soft landing on Mars | |

## EVAs

| Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
| 5 February 14:42 | 4 hours 48 minutes | 19:30 | Apollo 14 Apollo LM-8 Antares | Alan Shepard Edgar Mitchell | Shepard and Mitchell deployed several experiments on the lunar surface near the landing site, such as the Solar Wind Composition Experiment and the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP). The crew also took a contingency sample and planted a U.S. flag at the site. |
| 6 February 8:11 | 4 hours 34 minutes | 12:45 | Apollo 14 Apollo LM-8 Antares | Alan Shepard Edgar Mitchell | Planned as a traverse to Cone Crater, however the astronauts were unable to find the rim of the crater amid rolling terrain. The crew also took panoramic pictures and set up additional experiments. Shepard famously hit a golf ball on the lunar surface, using a six iron golf club head attached to the handle of an excavation tool. |
| 31 July 00:16 | 33 minutes | 00:49 | Apollo 15 Apollo LM-10 Falcon | David Scott | Scott stood on the lander's ascent engine cover to survey the landing site through the vehicle's docking hatch and take panoramic photography. |
| 31 July 13:13 | 6 hours 32 minutes | 19:45 | Apollo 15 Apollo LM-10 Falcon | David Scott James Irwin | Scott and Irwin visited Elbow Crater near the rim of Hadley Rille using the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), marking the first time humans traveled in a wheeled vehicle on another world. The crew also deployed an ALSEP on their return to the landing site. |
| 1 August 11:48 | 7 hours 12 minutes | 19:01 | Apollo 15 Apollo LM-10 Falcon | David Scott James Irwin | Scott and Irwin drove the LRV 12.5 miles along the base of the Apennine Mountains, visiting several craters, collecting samples and taking panoramic photography. The crew also took a deep core sample of lunar soil and planted a U.S. flag. |
| 2 August 08:52 | 4 hours 49 minutes | 13:42 | Apollo 15 Apollo LM-10 Falcon | David Scott James Irwin | Scott and Irwin traveled to Scarp Crater then northwest along the rille, collecting samples. The crew also retrieved the core sample drilled during the previous EVA. |
| 5 August 15:31 | 39 minutes | 16:10 | Apollo 15 Apollo CSM-112 Endeavour | Alfred Worden James Irwin | First spacewalk in deep space, conducted during the return trip to Earth. Worden retrieved exposed film from the Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) bay of the Service Module, while Irwin stood in the hatch. |

## Orbital launch summary
### By country

* China (PRC)
* Europe
* France
* Japan
* Soviet Union
* United Kingdom
* United States
Orbital launch attempts by country in 1971 :
| Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| ELDO (Europe) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| People's Republic of China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Soviet Union | 91 | 82 | 9 | 0 | |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Last and only successful launch |
| United States | 35 | 31 | 4 | 0 | |

### By rocket
#### By family

| Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Atlas | United States | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |
| Black Arrow | United Kingdom | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Diamant | France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Europa | ELDO Members Belgium France West Germany Netherlands United Kingdom Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Final flight |
| Kosmos (R-12/14) | Soviet Union | 34 | 31 | 3 | 0 | |
| Long March | People's Republic of China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mu | Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| N | Soviet Union | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| R-7 | Soviet Union | 44 | 40 | 4 | 0 | |
| R-36 | Soviet Union | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Saturn | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Titan | United States | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Thor | United States | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | |
| Scout | United States | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Universal Rocket | Soviet Union | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |

#### By type

| Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Atlas E/F | United States | Atlas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas-Agena | United States | Atlas | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Atlas-Centaur | United States | Atlas | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Black Arrow | United Kingdom | Black Arrow | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Diamant B | France | Diamant | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Delta | United States | Delta | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Europa | ELDO Members Belgium France West Germany Netherlands United Kingdom Australia | Europa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Final flight |
| Kosmos-2 | Soviet Union | Kosmos | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | |
| Kosmos-3 | Soviet Union | Kosmos | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | |
| Long March 1 | People's Republic of China | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Molniya | Soviet Union | R-7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mu-3 | Japan | Mu | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| N1 | Soviet Union | N | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Proton | Soviet Union | Universal Rocket | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-36OM | Soviet Union | R-36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Saturn V | United States | Saturn | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Scout B | United States | Scout | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Soyuz | Soviet Union | R-7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Thor-Burner | United States | Thor | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Thorad-Agena | United States | Thor | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Titan IIIB | United States | Titan | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Titan IIIC | United States | Titan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Titan IIID | United States | Titan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Tsyklon | Soviet Union | R-36 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Voskhod | Soviet Union | R-7 | 31 | 27 | 4 | 0 | |
| Vostok | Soviet Union | R-7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |

#### By configuration

| Rocket | Country | Type | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Atlas E/F-OV1-PM | United States | Atlas E/F | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas SLV-3A Agena-D | United States | Atlas-Agena | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D | United States | Atlas-Centaur | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Black Arrow | United Kingdom | Black Arrow | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Diamant B | France | Diamant B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Delta E1 | United States | Delta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Delta M | United States | Delta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Delta M6 | United States | Delta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Only flight |
| Delta N | United States | Delta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Delta N6 | United States | Delta | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Final flight |
| Europa II | ELDO Members Belgium France West Germany Netherlands United Kingdom Australia | Europa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Only flight |
| Kosmos-2I | Soviet Union | Kosmos-2 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | |
| Kosmos-3M | Soviet Union | Kosmos-3 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | |
| Long March 1 | People's Republic of China | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Molniya-M/ML | Soviet Union | Molniya | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mu-3S | Japan | Mu-3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| N1 | Soviet Union | N1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Proton-K | Soviet Union | Proton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Proton-K/D | Soviet Union | Proton | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| R-36OM | Soviet Union | R-36O | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Saturn V | United States | Saturn V | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Scout B | United States | Scout B | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Scout B-1 | United States | Scout B | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Soyuz | Soviet Union | Soyuz | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Soyuz-L | Soviet Union | Soyuz | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Soyuz-M | Soviet Union | Soyuz | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Thor LV-2F Burner II | United States | Thor-Burner | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Thor LV-2F Burner IIA | United States | Thor-Burner | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Thorad SLV-2G Agena-D | United States | Thorad-Agena | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Thorad SLV-2H Agena-D | United States | Thorad-Agena | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Titan III(23)B | United States | Titan III | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Titan III(24)B | United States | Titan III | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Titan III(33)B | United States | Titan III | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Titan III(23)C | United States | Titan III | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Titan III(23)D | United States | Titan III | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Tsyklon-2 | Soviet Union | Tsyklon | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Voskhod | Soviet Union | Voskhod | 31 | 27 | 4 | 0 | |
| Vostok-2M | Soviet Union | Vostok | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |

### By launch site

| Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Cape Kennedy | United States | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | |
| Baikonur | Soviet Union | 31 | 28 | 3 | 0 | |
| Jiuquan | People's Republic of China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kapustin Yar | Soviet Union | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Kennedy | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kagoshima | Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kourou | France | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Plesetsk | Soviet Union | 58 | 53 | 5 | 0 | |
| San Marco | Kenya | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Operated by Italy |
| Vandenberg | United States | 19 | 17 | 2 | 0 | |
| Wallops | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Woomera | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final orbital launch |

### By orbit

| Orbital regime | Launches | Achieved | Not Achieved | Accidentally achieved | Remarks |
| Failed to orbit | 0 N/A | 0 N/A | 0 N/A | 12 | |
| Low Earth | 109 | 100 | 9 | 1 | Two to Salyut 1 |
| Medium Earth | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Geosynchronous/transfer | 7 | 5 | 2 | | |
| High Earth | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | Including highly elliptical and Molniya orbits and trans-lunar trajectories. |
| Heliocentric | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |