1981 in spaceflight Launches Launches

| Date_and_time_UTC_ | Rocket | Site | Orbit | Function_ | Decay_UTC_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 April, 14:19 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16 , Cape Canaveral | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 7 April 1981 |
| 7 April, 14:40 UTC | Pershing 1A | LC-16 , Cape Canaveral | Sub-orbital | Operational test flight | 7 April 1981 |
| 9 April, 12:00 UTC | Kosmos-3M | LC-132/1, Plesetsk | LEO | Radar calibration | Still in orbit |
| 12 April, 12:00:03 UTC | Space Shuttle Columbia | LC-39A , Kennedy | LEO | Manned orbital flight | 14 April 1981, 18:20:57 UTC |
| 12 April, 12:00:03 UTC | Space Shuttle Columbia | LC-39A , Kennedy | LEO , attached to Columbia | Flight recorder | 14 April 1981, 18:20:57 UTC |
| 15 April, 10:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | LEO | Reconnaissance | 29 April 1981 |
| 16 April, 11:30 UTC | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk | LEO | Reconnaissance | 28 April 1981 |