1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 December | Minuteman III | LF-26, Vandenberg AFB | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 9 December 1981 |
| 10 December | Sonda-3 | Natal | Sub-orbital | Ionosphere research | 10 December 1981 |
| 13 December, 21:31:38 UTC | Black Brant IVB | Cape Parry | Sub-orbital | l Aurora research | 13 December 1981 |
| 13 December, 22:54:25 UTC | Black Brant X | Cape Parry | Sub-orbital | Plasma research | 13 December 1981 |
| 15 December, 23:35 UTC | Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D | LC-36B , Cape Canaveral | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit |
| 16 December, 14:10:00 UTC | Petrel | Esrange | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 16 December 1981 |
| 17 December, 11:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/2, Plesetsk | LEO | Amateur radio | Still in orbit |