1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 April | MR-UR-100U | LC-172, Baikonur | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 18 April 1981 |
| 21 April, 03:45 UTC | Tsyklon-2 | LC-90, Baikonur | LEO | Reconnaissance | Still in orbit |
| 24 April, 21:32 UTC | Titan 34B | SLC-4W , Vandenberg AFB | Molniya | Comsat | Still in orbit |
| 25 April, 02:01 UTC | Proton-K | LC-200/39 , Baikonur | LEO , docked to Salyut 6 | Technology demonstration | 29 July 1982 |
| 27 April, 23:15 UTC | Aries | LC-36, White Sands | Sub-orbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 27 April 1981 |
| 28 April, 09:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | LEO | Reconnaissance | 12 May 1981 |
| 30 April, 06:00 UTC | Skylark 7 | LA-S, Esrange | Sub-orbital | Microgravity research | 30 April 1981 |