Rocket Launches in 1981
Spaceflight in 1981: The Space Shuttle makes its first flight on 12 April, twenty years to the day after Gagarin, when Columbia carries John Young and Robert Crippen to orbit and lands like an airplane two days later. In November Columbia flies again, the first crewed spacecraft to be reused. Voyager 2 passes Saturn in August.
126 launches in 1981 · 3 failures · 3 partial
Launch list for 1981
| Date (UTC) | Rocket | Mission | Provider | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-01-06 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 32 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-01-09 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-3 25L | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-01-16 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Taifun-1 12 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-01-16 | Soyuz U | Zenit-4MT 20 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-01-20 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 15 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-01-21 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | DS-P1-M 15 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-01-23 | Tsiklon-3 | Geo-IK 1 | Yuzhmash | Failure |
| 1981-01-24 | Soyuz U | Progress 12 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-01-27 | Vostok 8A92M | Tselina-D 28 | RKK Energia | Success |
| 1981-01-30 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-1K 49 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-02-02 | Tsiklon-2 | IS-A 11 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-02-06 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | AUOS-Z-R-P-IK 2 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-02-11 | N-2 | Kiku-3 | MHI | Success |
| 1981-02-12 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Parus 26 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-02-13 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 33 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-02-18 | Soyuz U | Yantar-1KFT 1 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-02-19 | Molniya-M 2BL | US-K 19 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-02-21 | Mu-3S | Hinotori | Nissan | Success |
| 1981-02-21 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | Comstar 1D | Convair | Success |
| 1981-02-28 | Titan 24B | KH-8 51 | LM | Success |
| 1981-03-05 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 16 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-03-05 | Tsiklon-2 | US-A 17 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-03-06 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Strela-1M 209-216 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-03-12 | Soyuz U | Soyuz T-4 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-03-14 | Tsiklon-2 | IS-A 12 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-03-16 | Titan IIIC | DSP 9 | LM | Success |
| 1981-03-17 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 34 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-03-18 | Proton-K/DM | Raduga 8 | Khrunichev | Success |
| 1981-03-20 | Tsiklon-2 | US-P 10 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-03-22 | Soyuz U | Soyuz 39 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-03-24 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-3 24L | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-03-28 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 17 | Progress RSC | Failure |
| 1981-03-31 | Molniya-M 2BL | US-K 20 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-04-07 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 35 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-04-09 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Taifun-1 13 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-04-12 | Space Shuttle | STS-1 | Rockwell / Martin Marietta / Thiokol | Success |
| 1981-04-15 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 36 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-04-16 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 37 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-04-21 | Tsiklon-2 | US-A 18 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-04-24 | Titan 34B | Jumpseat 6 | LM | Success |
| 1981-04-25 | Proton-K | TKS 2 | Khrunichev | Success |
| 1981-04-28 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 38 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-05-07 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Strela-2M 24 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-05-14 | Soyuz U | Soyuz 40 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-05-14 | Vostok 8A92M | Meteor-2 7 | RKK Energia | Success |
| 1981-05-15 | Scout G-1 | Nova 1 | Vought | Success |
| 1981-05-18 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 18 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-05-19 | Vostok 8A92M | Tselina-D 29 | RKK Energia | Success |
| 1981-05-21 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 39 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-05-22 | Soyuz U | Zenit-4MKT 17 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-05-22 | Delta 3914 | GOES 5 | McDonnell Douglas | Success |
| 1981-05-23 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | Intelsat 501 | Convair | Success |
| 1981-05-31 | SLV-3 | Rohini RS-D-1 | ISRO | Partial Failure |
| 1981-06-03 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 19 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-06-04 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Parus 27 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-06-09 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-3 30L | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-06-16 | Soyuz U | Zenit-4MKT 18 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-06-17 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 40 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-06-19 | Ariane 1 | Meteosat 2 | Aérospatiale | Success |
| 1981-06-19 | Molniya-M 2BL | US-K 21 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-06-23 | SM-65F Atlas | NOAA 7 | Convair | Success |
| 1981-06-24 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-1K 50 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-06-25 | Proton-K/DM | Ekran | Khrunichev | Success |
| 1981-07-01 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 41 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-07-02 | Soyuz U | Resurs-F1 17F41 15L | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-07-07 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 42 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-07-10 | Vostok 8A92M | Meteor-Priroda 2-4 | RKK Energia | Success |
| 1981-07-15 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 20 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-07-17 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 43 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-07-29 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 44 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-07-30 | Proton-K/DM | Raduga 9 | Khrunichev | Success |
| 1981-08-03 | Delta 3913 | Dynamics Explorer 1 & 2 | McDonnell Douglas | Partial Failure |
| 1981-08-04 | Molniya-M 2BL | US-K 22 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-08-04 | Tsiklon-2 | US-P 11 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-08-06 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | FLTSATCOM 5 | Convair | Partial Failure |
| 1981-08-06 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Strela-1M 217-224 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-08-07 | Vostok 8A92M | Bulgaria 1300 | RKK Energia | Success |
| 1981-08-10 | N-2 | Himawari 2 | MHI | Success |
| 1981-08-12 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Parus 28 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-08-13 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 21 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-08-18 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 45 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-08-21 | Soyuz U | Yantar-4K2 1 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-08-24 | Tsiklon-2 | US-A 19 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-08-24 | Tsiklon-3 | Tselina-D 30 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-08-27 | Soyuz U | Resurs-F1 17F41 16L | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-08-28 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Strela-2M 25 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-09-03 | Titan IIID | KH-11 4 | LM | Success |
| 1981-09-04 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 46 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-09-04 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Tsikada 8 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-09-11 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-3 28L | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-09-14 | Tsiklon-2 | US-P 12 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-09-15 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 47 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-09-18 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Parus 29 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-09-18 | Soyuz U | Zenit-4MT 21 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-09-19 | Feng Bao 1 | Shi Jian 2, 2A, 2B | CASC | Success |
| 1981-09-21 | Tsiklon-3 | Aureole 3 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-09-23 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Taifun-1 14 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-09-24 | Delta 3910/PAM | SBS 2 | McDonnell Douglas | Success |
| 1981-09-28 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Taifun-2 9 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-09-30 | Tsiklon-3 | Geo-IK 2 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-10-01 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 48 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-10-06 | Delta 2310 | Solar Mesosphere Explorer | McDonnell Douglas | Success |
| 1981-10-09 | Soyuz U | Zenit-4MKT 19 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-10-09 | Proton-K/DM | Raduga 10 | Khrunichev | Success |
| 1981-10-13 | Vostok 8A92M | Tselina-D 31 | RKK Energia | Success |
| 1981-10-15 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 49 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-10-17 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-3 31L | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-10-30 | Proton-K/D-1 | Venera-13 | Khrunichev | Success |
| 1981-10-31 | Titan IIIC | Vortex 10 | LM | Success |
| 1981-10-31 | Molniya-M 2BL | US-K 23 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-11-03 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 22 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-11-04 | Proton-K/D-1 | Venera-14 | Khrunichev | Success |
| 1981-11-12 | Space Shuttle | STS-2 | Rockwell / Martin Marietta / Thiokol | Success |
| 1981-11-13 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 50 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-11-17 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-1K 51 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-11-20 | Delta 3910/PAM | Satcom 3R | McDonnell Douglas | Success |
| 1981-11-20 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Bhaskara 2 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-11-28 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Strela-1M 225-232 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-12-03 | Tsiklon-3 | Tselina-D 32 | Yuzhmash | Success |
| 1981-12-04 | Soyuz U | Zenit-6U 51 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-12-15 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | Intelsat 503 | Convair | Success |
| 1981-12-17 | Kosmos-3M (11K65M) | Radio Sputnik 3 to 8 | Polyot | Success |
| 1981-12-19 | Atlas E/SVS | Navstar 7 | Convair | Failure |
| 1981-12-19 | Soyuz U | Yantar-2K 23 | Progress RSC | Success |
| 1981-12-20 | Ariane 1 | Marecs 1 | Aérospatiale | Success |
| 1981-12-23 | Molniya-M 2BL | Molniya-1K 52 | Progress RSC | Success |