1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 February, 20:13:45 UTC | Petrel 2 | Esrange | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 7 February 1981 |
| 7 February, 20:30 UTC | Nike Orion | Kiruna | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy research | 7 February 1981 |
| 9 February | Minuteman III | LF-08, Vandenberg AFB | Sub-orbital | ICBM test | 9 February 1981 |
| 9 February | Minuteman III | LF-09, Vandenberg AFB | Sub-orbital | ICBM test | 9 February 1981 |
| 11 February, 08:30 UTC | N-II | LA-N, Tanegashima | MEO | Test carrier rocket/technology development | Still in orbit |
| 12 February, 05:27 UTC | Centaure 2B | Thumba | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 12 February 1981 |
| 12 February, 18:21 UTC | Kosmos-3M (R-14 11K65M) | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | LEO | Navigation | Still in orbit |
| 13 February, 11:15 UTC | Soyuz-U (R-7 11A511U) | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance satellite | 27 February 1981 |