1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September | UR-100N | Baikonur | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 8 September 1981 |
| 11 September, 08:43 UTC | Molniya-M | LC-43/3, Plesetsk | Intended: Molniya Achieved: MEO | Comsat | Still in orbit |
| 12 September | Minuteman IB | LF-06, Vandenberg AFB | Sub-orbital | Re-entry test | 12 September 1981 |
| 14 September, 20:31 UTC | Tsyklon-2 | LC-90, Baikonur | LEO | SIGINT | 16 July 1982 |
| 15 September, 11:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 29 September 1981 |
| 18 September, 03:34 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit |
| 18 September, 09:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 1 October 1981 |
| 18 September, 17:59:58 UTC | Vertikal | LC-107, Kapustin Yar | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 18 September 1981 |