1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October, 09:22:00 UTC | Titan III C | LC-40 , Cape Canaveral | GEO | ELINT | Still in orbit |
| 31 October, 22:54 UTC | Molniya-M | LC-16/2, Plesetsk | Molniya | Missile detection | Still in orbit |
| 3 November, 13:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-41/1, Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 4 December 1981 |
| 4 November, 05:31 UTC | Proton-K / D-1 | LC-200/39 , Baikonur | Heliocentric | Venus flyby | Still in orbit |
| 4 November, 05:31 UTC | Proton-K / D-1 | LC-200/39 , Baikonur | Heliocentric | Venus lander | 5 March 1982 |
| 7 November, 12:03:40 UTC | Sergeant | Poker Flat | Sub-orbital | l Aurora research | 7 November 1981 |
| 9 November | Taurus-Orion | LC-36, White Sands | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | 9 November 1981 |