1981 Space Launch Chronology
Every orbital and deep-space launch attempt of 1981, successes and failures alike, drawn from the GCAT launch catalog.
Data current as of 2026-07-19.
126
Launch attempts
122
Successes
4
Failures
97%
Success rate
Launches by vehicle family
Soyuz
42
Kosmos
18
Molniya
14
Tsiklon
13
Proton
7
Vostok
6
Atlas
6
Titan
5
Other
15
| Date | Designator | Payloads | Vehicle | Site / Pad | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1981 (10) | |||||
| Jan 06 | 1981-001 | 77023 -474 : Argon No. 40L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Jan 09 | 1981-002 | 77023 -617 : Molniya-3 No. 25L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Jan 16 | 1981-003 | 53798-319 : Taifun-1V | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Jan 16 | 1981-004 | 78017 -821 : Orion No. 18L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Jan 20 | 1981-005 | 77023 -975 : Feniks No. 15L (975), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Jan 21 | 1981-006 | 65082-427 : Lira No. 9 | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Jan 23 | 1981-F01 | 45083-621 : Musson No. 11L | Tsiklon-3 | NIIP-53 / LC32/1 | Failure |
| Jan 24 | 1981-007 | P 15000-235 : Progress 7K-TG No. 113 | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Jan 27 | 1981-008 | 78017 -354 : Ikar No. 25L | Vostok 8A92M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Jan 30 | 1981-009 | 76038 -510 : Molniya-1K No. 59L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| February 1981 (10) | |||||
| Feb 02 | 1981-010 | 45028-201 : IS-M No. 707 | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Feb 06 | 1981-011 | 53793-478 : AUOS-Z-R-P-IK | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Feb 11 | 1981-012 | N-7(F) : ETS-4 | N-2 | TNSC / N | Success |
| Feb 12 | 1981-013 | 65098-320 : Parus | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Feb 13 | 1981-014 | 76053 -478 : Argon No. 31L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Feb 18 | 1981-015 | Ts15000-264 : Siluet No. 1L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Feb 19 | 1981-016 | 76047 -549 : Oko 5V95 No. 6005 | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC16/2 | Success |
| Feb 21 | 1981-017 | M-3S-2 : ASTRO-A | Mu-3S | KASC / M | Success |
| Feb 21 | 1981-018 | AC-42 : Comstar D-4 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | CC / LC36A | Success |
| Feb 28 | 1981-019 | 24B-24 (3B-59) : GAMBIT-3 FM-51, SRV-1, SRV-2 | Titan 24B | VS / SLC4W | Success |
| March 1981 (13) | |||||
| Mar 05 | 1981-020 | 77023 -475 : Feniks No. 16L (940), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Mar 05 | 1981-021 | 67052-104 : US-A No. 329 ROCh | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Mar 06 | 1981-022 | 53767-247 : Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 1, Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 2, Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 3 +5 more, Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 4, Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 5, Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 6, Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 7, Strela-1M Blok 27 No. 8 | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| Mar 12 | 1981-023 | Ts15000-266 : Soyuz 7K-ST No. 10L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Mar 14 | 1981-024 | 45048-204 : IS-M No. 5xx-10-031 | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Mar 16 | 1981-025 | 23C-22 (3C-40) : DSP 10 | Titan IIIC | CC / LC40 | Success |
| Mar 17 | 1981-026 | 77023 -468 : Argon No. 28L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Mar 18 | 1981-027 | 306-01 : Gran' No. 18L | Proton-K/DM | NIIP-5 / LC200/40 | Success |
| Mar 20 | 1981-028 | 45035-503 : US-P No. 122 | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Mar 22 | 1981-029 | P 15000-257 : Soyuz 7K-T No. 55 | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Mar 24 | 1981-030 | 77025 -525 : Molniya-3 No. 24 | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Mar 28 | 1981-F02 | 78055 -927 : SpK, Feniks No. 17L (979) | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Failure |
| Mar 31 | 1981-031 | 78017 -553 : Oko 5V95 No. 5004 | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| April 1981 (9) | |||||
| Apr 07 | 1981-032 | 76053 -480 : Argon No. 32L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Apr 09 | 1981-033 | 53798-322 : Taifun-1V | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Apr 12 | 1981-034 | STS-1 : OV-102, MESA, DFI PLT (STS 1) +1 more, ACIP | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| Apr 15 | 1981-035 | 76053 -482 : Argon No. 44L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Apr 16 | 1981-036 | 76053 -479 : Argon No. 33L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Apr 21 | 1981-037 | 51035-504 : US-A No. 339 ROCh | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Apr 24 | 1981-038 | 34B-8 (3B-60) : JUMPSEAT 6 | Titan 34B | VS / SLC4W | Success |
| Apr 25 | 1981-039 | 299-02 : TKS No. 163-01, TKS VA No. 0103/3 | Proton-K | NIIP-5 / LC200/39 | Success |
| Apr 28 | 1981-040 | 77053 -484 : Argon No. 42L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| May 1981 (11) | |||||
| May 07 | 1981-041 | 47198-321 : Strela-2M No. [34] | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| May 14 | 1981-042 | P 15000-246 : Soyuz 7K-T No. 56 | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| May 14 | 1981-043 | 77052 -392 : Meteor-2 No. 8 | Vostok 8A92M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| May 15 | 1981-044 | S192C : Nova 1 (O-48) | Scout G-1 | VS / SLC5 | Success |
| May 18 | 1981-045 | 76053 -485 : Feniks No. 18L (980), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| May 19 | 1981-046 | 78017 -355 : Ikar No. 23L | Vostok 8A92M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| May 21 | 1981-047 | 78039 -418 : Argon No. 45L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| May 22 | 1981-048 | 76053 -077 : Fram No. 17L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| May 22 | 1981-049 | 645/D154 : GOES E | Delta 3914 | CC / LC17A | Success |
| May 23 | 1981-050 | AC-56 : INTELSAT V F1 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | CC / LC36B | Success |
| May 31 | 1981-051 | SLV-3-D1 : Rohini RS-D-1 | SLV-3 | SHAR / SLV | Success |
| June 1981 (10) | |||||
| Jun 03 | 1981-052 | 76053 -483 : Feniks No. 19L (942), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Jun 04 | 1981-053 | 65098-323 : Parus | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| Jun 09 | 1981-054 | 76053 -622 : Molniya-3 No. 30L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Jun 16 | 1981-055 | 78039 -078 : Fram No. 18L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Jun 17 | 1981-056 | 78039 -417 : Argon No. 34L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Jun 19 | 1981-057 | L03 : Meteosat F2, Apple, CAT 03 | Ariane 1 | CSG / ELA1 | Success |
| Jun 19 | 1981-058 | 76047 -554 : Oko 5V95 No. 6011 | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Jun 23 | 1981-059 | 87F : NOAA C | Atlas F | VS / SLC3W | Success |
| Jun 24 | 1981-060 | 76038 -607 : Molniya-1K No. 61L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Jun 25 | 1981-061 | 305-01 : Ekran No. 21L | Proton-K/DM | NIIP-5 / LC200/40 | Success |
| July 1981 (8) | |||||
| Jul 01 | 1981-062 | 78039 -422 : Argon No. 48L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Jul 02 | 1981-063 | 78026 -663 : Resurs-F1-17F41 No. 5L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Jul 07 | 1981-064 | 76053 -477 : Argon No. 35L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Jul 10 | 1981-065 | 76042 -389 : Meteor-Priroda No. 2-4, RK-01 (I-5) | Vostok 8A92M | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Jul 15 | 1981-066 | 78017 -951 : Feniks No. 20L (951), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Jul 17 | 1981-067 | 76047 -940 : Argon No. 36L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Jul 29 | 1981-068 | 78039 -421 : Argon No. 51L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Jul 30 | 1981-069 | 301-02 : Gran' No. 19L | Proton-K/DM | NIIP-5 / LC200/39 | Success |
| August 1981 (15) | |||||
| Aug 03 | 1981-070 | 642/D155 : DE A, DE B | Delta 3913 | V / SLC2W | Success |
| Aug 04 | 1981-071 | 76047 -522 : Oko 5V95 No. 5006 | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC16/2 | Success |
| Aug 04 | 1981-072 | 67028-203 : US-P No. 123 | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Aug 06 | 1981-073 | AC-59 : FLTSATCOM F5 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | CC / LC36A | Failure |
| Aug 06 | 1981-074 | 65055-112 : Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 1, Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 2, Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 3 +5 more, Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 4, Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 5, Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 6, Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 7, Strela-1M Blok 28 No. 8 | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| Aug 07 | 1981-075 | 78039 -375 : IK Bulgaria-1300 | Vostok 8A92M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Aug 10 | 1981-076 | N-8(F) : GMS 2 | N-2 | TNSC / N | Success |
| Aug 12 | 1981-077 | 47198-324 : Parus | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| Aug 13 | 1981-078 | 76053 -978 : Feniks No. 21L (943), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Aug 18 | 1981-079 | 76053 -481 : Argon No. 39L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Aug 21 | 1981-080 | 78039 -115 : Yantar'-4K2 No. 1L, SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Aug 24 | 1981-081 | 51048-205 : US-A No. 340 ROCh | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Aug 24 | 1981-082 | 51099-801 : Ikar No. 33L | Tsiklon-3 | NIIP-53 / LC32/1 | Success |
| Aug 27 | 1981-083 | 77049 -116 : Resurs-F1-17F41 No. 6L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Aug 28 | 1981-084 | 47155-101 : Strela-2M No. [35] | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| September 1981 (14) | |||||
| Sep 03 | 1981-085 | 23D-22 : KENNEN 4 | Titan IIID | VS / SLC4E | Success |
| Sep 04 | 1981-086 | 78017 -941 : Argon No. 52L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Sep 04 | 1981-087 | 53755-108 : Tsikada | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Sep 11 | 1981-088 | 78055 -535 : Molniya-3 No. 28L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Sep 14 | 1981-089 | 67055-505 : US-P No. 124 | Tsiklon-2 | NIIP-5 / LC90 | Success |
| Sep 15 | 1981-090 | 78039 -416 : Argon No. 41L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Sep 18 | 1981-091 | 47175-113 : Parus | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Sep 18 | 1981-092 | 77023 -802 : Orion No. 22L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Sep 19 | 1981-093 | XCZ-1-02 : shijian erhao B xing, shijian erhao A xing, shijian erhao | Feng Bao 1 | JQ / LA2B | Success |
| Sep 21 | 1981-094 | 67099-802 : AUOS-Z-M-A-IK No. 401 | Tsiklon-3 | NIIP-53 / LC32/1 | Success |
| Sep 23 | 1981-095 | 53719-527 : Taifun-1A | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| Sep 24 | 1981-096 | 641/D156 : SBS 2 | Delta 3910/PAM | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Sep 28 | 1981-097 | 53775-114 : Taifun-2B (03), ESO | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| Sep 30 | 1981-098 | 51099-801 : Musson No. 12 | Tsiklon-3 | NIIP-53 / LC32/1 | Success |
| October 1981 (10) | |||||
| Oct 01 | 1981-099 | 78039 -427 : Argon No. 53L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Oct 06 | 1981-100 | 639/D157 : Solar Mesosphere Explorer, UoSAT 1 | Delta 2310 | V / SLC2W | Success |
| Oct 09 | 1981-101 | 77049 -079 : Fram No. 19L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Oct 09 | 1981-102 | 310-01 : Gran' No. 20L | Proton-K/DM | NIIP-5 / LC200/39 | Success |
| Oct 13 | 1981-103 | 78017 -357 : Ikar No. 26L | Vostok 8A92M | NIIP-53 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Oct 15 | 1981-104 | 78039 -423 : Argon No. 47L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Oct 17 | 1981-105 | 78055 -530 : Molniya-3 No. 31L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Oct 30 | 1981-106 | 311-01 : 4V-1M No. 760, 4V-1 SA | Proton-K/D-1 | NIIP-5 / LC200/40 | Success |
| Oct 31 | 1981-107 | 23C-21 (3C-39) : VORTEX 10 | Titan IIIC | CC / LC40 | Success |
| Oct 31 | 1981-108 | 76047 -555 : Oko 5V95 No. 5005 | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC16/2 | Success |
| November 1981 (8) | |||||
| Nov 03 | 1981-109 | 77023 -977 : Feniks No. 22L (944), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Nov 04 | 1981-110 | 311-02 : 4V-1M No. 761, 4V-1 SA | Proton-K/D-1 | NIIP-5 / LC200/39 | Success |
| Nov 12 | 1981-111 | STS-2 : OV-102, PLT E002, DFI PLT (STS 2) +2 more, IECM, ACIP | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| Nov 13 | 1981-112 | 78039 -429 : Argon No. 57L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Nov 17 | 1981-113 | 78026 -601 : Molniya-1K No. 57L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-53 / LC41/1 | Success |
| Nov 20 | 1981-114 | 640/D158 : RCA-D | Delta 3910/PAM | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Nov 20 | 1981-115 | 47193-468 : SEO B | Kosmos 11K65M | GTsP-4 / LC107/2 | Success |
| Nov 28 | 1981-116 | 65093-121 : Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 1, Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 2, Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 3 +5 more, Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 4, Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 5, Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 6, Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 7, Strela-1M Blok 29 No. 8 | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| December 1981 (8) | |||||
| Dec 03 | 1981-117 | 45029-803 : Ikar No. 34L | Tsiklon-3 | NIIP-53 / LC32/1 | Success |
| Dec 04 | 1981-118 | 76053 -980 : Argon No. 56L | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Dec 15 | 1981-119 | AC-55 : INTELSAT V F3 | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur | CC / LC36A | Success |
| Dec 17 | 1981-120 | 53775-120 : RS-3, RS-4, RS-5 +3 more, RS-6, RS-7, RS-8 | Kosmos 11K65M | NIIP-53 / LC132/2 | Success |
| Dec 19 | 1981-F03 | 76E : Navstar GPS SVN 7 | Atlas E/SVS | VS / SLC3E | Failure |
| Dec 19 | 1981-121 | 77049 -428 : Feniks No. 23L (952), SpK | Soyuz-U | NIIP-5 / LC31 | Success |
| Dec 20 | 1981-122 | L04 : Marecs A, CAT 04/VID | Ariane 1 | CSG / ELA1 | Success |
| Dec 23 | 1981-123 | 78039 -640 : Molniya-1K No. 55L | Molniya 8K78M | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |