1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 June, 23:55 UTC | Proton-K / DM | LC-200/40 , Baikonur | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit |
| 26 June | Minuteman III | LF-26, Vandenberg AFB | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 26 June 1981 |
| June | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch |
| 1 July, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | LEO | Reconnaissance | 15 July 1981 |
| 2 July, 07:10 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-43/3, Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 15 July 1981 |
| 7 July, 12:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 21 July 1981 |
| 10 July, 05:14 UTC | Vostok-2M | Baikonur | LEO ( SSO ) | Weather satellite | Still in orbit |
| 10 July, 05:14 UTC | Vostok-2M | Baikonur | LEO ( SSO ) | Microgravity research | 16 April 1990 |