1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 November, 15:09:59 UTC | Space Shuttle Columbia | LC-39A , Kennedy | LEO | Manned orbital flight | 14 November 1981, 21:23:11 UTC |
| 12 November, 15:09:59 UTC | Space Shuttle Columbia | LC-39A , Kennedy | LEO , attached to Columbia | Flight recorder | 14 November 1981, 21:23:11 UTC |
| 12 November, 15:09:59 UTC | Space Shuttle Columbia | LC-39A , Kennedy | LEO , attached to Columbia | Remote sensing | 14 November 1981, 21:23:11 UTC |
| 13 November, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | LEO | Reconnaissance | 27 November 1981 |
| 15 November, 17:50 UTC | Trident C-4 | USSBenjamin Franklin , ETR | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 15 November 1981 |
| 17 November, 15:25 UTC | Molniya-M | Plesetsk | Molniya | Comsat | 2 November 1993 |
| 17 November | Black Brant 8B | White Sands | Sub-orbital | X-Ray astronomy | 17 November 1981 |