1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 July | Poseidon | USSGeorge C. Marshall , ETR | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 11 July 1981 |
| 15 July, 13:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | LC-31/6 , Baikonur | LEO | Reconnaissance | 14 August 1981 |
| 17 July, 08:00 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 31 July 1981 |
| 29 July, 11:55 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 12 August 1981 |
| 30 July, 21:38 UTC | Proton-K / DM | LC-200/39 , Baikonur | GSO | Comsat | Still in orbit |
| 31 July, 10:50 UTC | Aries | LC-36, White Sands | Sub-orbital | Infrared astronomy | 31 July 1981 |
| July | MR-12 | Professor Zubov | Sub-orbital | Aeronomy | Within an hour of launch |
| 1 August, 22:00 UTC | TT-500A | LA-T, Tanegashima | Sub-orbital | Test flight | 1 August 1981 |