1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch |
| 3 June, 14:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 3 July 1981 |
| 3 June | SSBS S3 | BL-B, Biscarosse | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 3 June 1981 |
| 4 June, 15:41 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit |
| 9 June, 03:33 UTC | Molniya-M | Plesetsk | Molniya | Comsat | 10 February 1998 |
| 12 June | DOT | Kwajalein Atoll | Sub-orbital | Test interceptor | 12 June 1981 |
| 12 June | Minuteman III | LF-09, Vandenberg AFB | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 12 June 1981 |
| 16 June, 07:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 29 June 1981 |
| 17 June, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | LEO | Reconnaissance | 1 July 1981 |