1981 in spaceflight

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Contents

Launches

[edit]

This is a list of spaceflights launched in 1981.


← Jan • Feb • Mar • Apr • May • Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct • Nov • Dec →
Launch date and time Rocket Launch
site		 Launch contractor Payload Operator Orbit Mission
function		 Re-entry or
destruction		 Outcome Remarks
6 January, 12:15 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1237 (Zenit-6U) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 20 January 1981 Successful
9 January, 14:57 GMT Molniya-M/ML
(R-7 8K78M/ML)		 LC-41/1, Plesetsk RVSN Molniya 3-14 MOM Molniya Comsat 3 July 1999 Successful
10 January, 18:22 GMT Nike Tomahawk Siple Station, Ellsworth Island NASA NASA Sub-orbital Ionospheric research 10 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 198 km (123 mi)
14 January, 22:00 GMT TT-500A LA-T, Tanegashima NASDA NASDA Sub-orbital Test rocket 14 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 300 km (186 mi)
16 January, 09:00 GMT Kosmos-3M
(R-14 11K65M)		 LC-132/1, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1238 (Taifun-1) MO SSSR LEO Radar calibration Still in orbit Successful
16 January, 12:00 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1239 (Zenit-4MT) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 28 January 1981 Successful
19 January, 03:37 GMT Black Brant VB Fort Churchill NRCC NRCC Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 19 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 263 km (163 mi)
20 January, 04:50 GMT Astrobee-F White Sands NASA NASA Sub-orbital Ultraviolet astronomy 20 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 209 km (130 mi)
20 January, 11:00 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 LC-31/6, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos 1240 (Yantar-2K) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 17 February 1981 Successful
21 January, 00:25 GMT Black Brant 8C White Sands NASA SPAR-9 NASA Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 21 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 209 km (130 mi)
21 January, 08:29 GMT Kosmos-3M
(R-14 11K65M)		 LC-132/1, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1241 (DS-P1-M) MO SSSR LEO ASAT target Still in orbit Successful
21 January, 21:46 GMT S-310 Kagoshima ISAS ISAS Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 21 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 174 km (108 mi)
23 January, 11:20 GMT Tsyklon-3
(R-36 11K68)		 LC-32/1, Plesetsk RVSN Geo-IK S/N 1 MO SSSR Intended: MEO Geodetics 23 January 1981 Failure Fairing failed to separate
24 January, 14:18 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 LC-1/5, Baikonur RVSN Progress 12 MOM LEO, docked to Salyut 6 Resupply Salyut 6 20 March 1981, 16:58:58 GMT Successful
26 January, 07:20 GMT Black Brant IVB Fort Churchill NRCC NRCC Sub-orbital Auroral research 26 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 584 km (363 mi)
27 January, 14:58 GMT Vostok-2M
(R-7 8A92M)		 Plesetsk Kosmos 1242 (Tselina-D) MOM LEO SIGINT satellite Still in orbit Successful
29 January, 04:12 GMT Astrobee-F Fort Churchill NASA NASA Sub-orbital Plasma research 29 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 189 km (117 mi)
29 January, 17:00 GMT S-520 LA-K, Kagoshima ISAS TPE-2 ISAS Sub-orbital Ionospheric/tether research 29 January 1981 Successful Apogee: 323 km (201 mi)
30 January, 16:27 GMT Molniya-M/ML
(R-7 8K78M/ML)		 Plesetsk RVSN Molniya 1-49 MOM Molniya Comsat Still in orbit Successful
2 February, 02:19 GMT Tsyklon-2
(R-36 11K69)		 LC-90, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos 1243 (IS-A) MO SSSR LEO ASAT test 2 February 1981 Failure Intended to destroy Kosmos 1241, passed within 50 m (164 ft) of target, failed to explode.
4 February, 01:10 GMT Aries LC-36, White Sands US Air Force US Air Force Sub-orbital ABM technology development 4 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 387 km (240 mi)
4 February, 05:00 GMT Centaure Thumba ISRO ISRO Sub-orbital Ionosphere research 4 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
4 February, 15:00 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-141 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 4 February 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
4 February, 15:33 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-139 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 4 February 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
4 February, 15:53 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-140 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 4 February 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
5 February, 11:25 GMT Sergeant Poker Flat US Air Force FWIF IV US Air Force Sub-orbital Auroral research 5 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 130 km (81 mi)
6 February, 08:00 GMT Kosmos-3M
(R-14 11K65M)		 LC-132/1, Plesetsk RVSN Interkosmos-21 Interkosmos LEO Technology development 7 July 1982 Successful Deactivated 2 June 1982
7 February, 20:13:45 GMT Petrel 2 Esrange SERC SERC Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 7 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 140 km (87 mi)
7 February, 20:30 GMT Nike Orion Kiruna SSC OXYGEN SSC Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 7 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 120 km (75 mi)
9 February Minuteman III LF-08, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force GT-79GM US Air Force Sub-orbital ICBM test 9 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,300 km (808 mi)
9 February Minuteman III LF-09, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force GT-80GM US Air Force Sub-orbital ICBM test 9 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,300 km (808 mi)
11 February, 08:30 GMT N-II LA-N, Tanegashima NASDA Kiku 3 (ETS-4) NASDA MEO Test carrier rocket/technology development Still in orbit Successful Maiden flight of N-II
12 February, 05:27 GMT Centaure 2B Thumba ISRO ISRO Sub-orbital Ionosphere research 12 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi)
12 February, 18:21 GMT Kosmos-3M
(R-14 11K65M)		 LC-132/1, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1244 (Parus) MO SSSR LEO Navigation Still in orbit Successful
13 February, 11:15 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1245 (Zenit-6U) MOM LEO Reconnaissance satellite 27 February 1981 Successful
13 February, 17:15 GMT Black Brant 8C LC-36, White Sands NASA NASA Sub-orbital Solar research 13 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 265 km (165 mi)
17 February, 17:15 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-143 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 17 February 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
17 February, 17:51 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-142 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 17 February 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
17 February, 19:17 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-144 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 17 February 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
18 February, 09:00 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 LC-31/6, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos 1246 (Yantar-1KFT) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 13 March 1981 Successful
18 February INTA-300 El Arenosillo INTA INTA Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 18 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 285 km (177 mi)
18 February Minuteman IB LF-06, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force ABRES IRS-1 US Air Force Sub-orbital Test re-entry vehicle 18 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,300 km (808 mi)
19 February, 10:00 GMT Molniya-M/2BL
(R-7 8K78M/2BL)		 LC-16/2, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1247 (Oko) MOM Molniya Missile early warning Still in orbit Successful so far First launch from LC-16/2
21 February, 00:30 GMT Mu-3S LA-M, Kagoshima ISAS Hinotori (ASTRO-A) ISAS LEO Solar research 11 July 1991 Successful
21 February, 23:23 GMT Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D LC-36A, Cape Canavaral Comstar 4 (Parallax 1/Esiafi 1) LMGT (1981-2001)
SSC Parallax (2001-2002)
Tongasat (2002—)		 GSO Comsat Still in orbit Successful Renamed Parallax 1 in 2001 and Esiafi 1 in 2002
21 February Minuteman III LF-26, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force GT-81GM US Air Force Sub-orbital ICBM test 21 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,300 km (808 mi)
25 February, 17:20 GMT Sergeant-Hydac Poker Flat US Air Force HAVE SLED US Air Force Sub-orbital Test flight 25 February 1981 Successful Apogee: 400 km (249 mi)
28 February, 19:15 GMT Titan 24B/Agena-D SLC-4W, Vandenberg AFB OPS 1166 (KH-8) US Air Force/NRO LEO Reconnaissance 20 June 1981 Successful
1 March, 09:20 GMT OTRAG Seba Oasis OTRAG OTRAG Sub-orbital Test flight 1 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
5 March, 15:00 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 LC-41/1, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1249 (Yantar-2K) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 4 April 1981 Successful
5 March, 16:48 GMT Sergeant-Hydac Poker Flat US Air Force HAVE SLED US Air Force Sub-orbital Test flight 5 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 400 km (249 mi)
5 March, 18:09 GMT Tsyklon-2
(R-36 11K69)		 LC-90, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos 1249 (US-A) MO SSSR LEO Ocean reconnaissance 19 July 1981 Successful
6 March, 11:31 GMT Kosmos-3M
(R-14 11K65M)		 LC-132/2, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos 1250 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
Kosmos 1251 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
Kosmos 1252 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
Kosmos 1253 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
Kosmos 1254 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
Kosmos 1255 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
Kosmos 1256 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
Kosmos 1257 (Strela-1M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
7 March, 08:09 GMT Taurus-Orion Poker Flat US Air Force AURORAL E1 US Air Force Sub-orbital Auroral research 7 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 156 km (97 mi)
7 March, 08:09 GMT Taurus-Orion Poker Flat US Air Force AURORAL E3 US Air Force Sub-orbital Aeronomy/Ionospheric/Plasma research 7 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 203 km (126 mi)
7 March, 08:26 GMT Taurus-Orion Poker Flat US Air Force AURORAL E2 US Air Force Sub-orbital Auroral research 7 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 169 km (105 mi)
7 March, 08:38 GMT Paiute-Tomahawk Poker Flat US Air Force AURORAL E4 US Air Force Sub-orbital Auroral research 7 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 187 km (116 mi)
8 March, 16:00 GMT Nike Orion Poker Flat US Air Force CWAS 1 US Air Force Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 8 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 140 km (87 mi)
12 March, 04:30 GMT Sergeant-Hydac Poker Flat US Air Force HAVE SLED US Air Force Sub-orbital Test flight 12 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 400 km (249 mi)
12 March, 19:00 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 LC-1/5, Baikonur RVSN Soyuz T-4, 2 cosmonauts MOM LEO, docked to Salyut 6 Manned orbital flight 25 May 1981, 12:37 GMT Successful Salyut 6 Expedition 6
13 March, 16:00 GMT Nike-Orion Fort Churchill NASA CWAS 2 NASA Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 13 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 140 km (87 mi)
14 March, 16:55 GMT Tsyklon-2
(R-36 11K69)		 LC-90, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos 1258 (IS-A) MO SSSR LEO ASAT test 14 March 1981 Failure Intended to destroy Kosmos 1241. Spacecraft malfunction
15 March Minuteman IB LF-03, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force ABERS TDV-4 US Air Force Sub-orbital Test re-entry vehicle 15 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,300 km (808 mi)
16 March, 19:24 GMT Titan IIIC LC-40, Cape Canaveral IMEWS 11 US Air Force GEO. Moved to Graveyard orbit after retirement Missile early warning Still in orbit Successful Retired on 1 January 1992
17 March, 08:40 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 LC-31, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos-1259 (Zenit 6U) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 31 March 1981 Successful
18 March, 04:40 GMT Proton-K/DM LC-200/40, Baikonur RVSN Raduga 8 MOM GEO. Moved to Graveyard orbit after retirement Comsat Still in orbit Failure Deactivated on 11 April 1981
20 March, 23:45 GMT Tsyklon-2
(R-36 11K69)		 LC-90, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos 1260 (US-P/EORSAT) MO SSSR LEO Ocean reconnaissance 22 May 1982 Successful
22 March, 14:58 GMT Soyuz-U
(R-7 11A511U)		 LC-31, Baikonur RVSN Soyuz 39, 2 cosmonauts MOM LEO, docked to Salyut 6 Manned orbital flight 30 March 1981 Successful
24 March, 03:00 GMT Black Brant 8C LC-36, White Sands NASA NASA Sub-orbital Ultraviolet astronomy 24 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 261 km (162 mi)
24 March, 03:31 GMT Molniya-M LC-41/1, Plesetsk Cosmodrome RVSN Molniya 3-15 MOM Molniya Comsat 19 October 1992 Successful
25 March, 08:05 GMT Taurus-Tomahawk Poker Flat NASA NASA Sub-orbital Plasma research 25 March 1981 Successful [[Apogee
28 March, 01:54 GMT Black Brant VB Fort Churchill NRCC FALCONS NRCC Sub-orbital Ionosphere research 28 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 327 km (203 mi)
28 March, 01:54 GMT Black Brant IVB Fort Churchill NRCC FALCONS NRCC Sub-orbital Ionosphere research 28 March 1981 Successful Apogee: 675 km (419 mi)
28 March, 09:30 GMT Soyuz-U LC-31/6, Baikonur RVSN Yantar-2K 979 MOM Intended: LEO Reconnaissance satellite 28 March 1981 Failure Carrier rocket malfunction, failed to orbit
30 March, 05:52 GMT Nike-Orion Poker Flat DNA LADY LOU Ba DNA Sub-orbital Aeronomy research 30 March 1981 Successful
31 March, 09:40 GMT Molniya-M LC-41/1, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos-1261 (Oko) MOM Molniya Missile defence Still in orbit Successful so far
1 April, 09:04:35 GMT Taurus-Tomahawk Poker Flat NASA NASA Sub-orbital Plasma research 1 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
1 April, 09:10 GMT Trident C-4 USS Simon Bolivar, ETR US Navy DASO-7 US Navy Sub-orbital Operational test flight 1 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
1 April Minuteman III LF-04, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force GT-75GM2 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 1 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
2 April Taurus-Orion Wallops Island NASA NASA Sub-orbital Plasma research 2 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
3 April, 06:20:55 GMT Nike-Orion Poker Flat DNA DNA Sub-orbital Aeronomy 3 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi)
3 April Taurus-Orion Wallops Island NASA NASA Sub-orbital Plasma research 3 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
4 April Minuteman IB LF-06, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force ABRES 500-PAS-1 US Air Force Sub-orbital Re-entry test 4 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
7 April, 10:51 GMT Soyuz-U Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos-1262 (Zenit-6) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 21 April 1981 Successful
7 April, 14:00 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-146 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 7 April 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
7 April, 14:19 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-147 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 7 April 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
7 April, 14:40 GMT Pershing 1A LC-16, Cape Canaveral US Air Force FOT-148 US Air Force Sub-orbital Operational test flight 7 April 1981 Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
9 April, 12:00 GMT Kosmos-3M LC-132/1, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos-1263 (Taifun-1) MO SSSR LEO Radar calibration Still in orbit Successful so far
12 April, 12:00:03 GMT Space Shuttle Columbia LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center United Space Alliance STS-1, 2 astronauts NASA LEO Manned orbital flight 14 April 1981, 18:20:57 GMT Successful Maiden flight of Space Shuttle
DFI NASA LEO, attached to Columbia Flight recorder Successful
15 April, 10:30 GMT Soyuz-U Baikonur RVSN Kosmos-1264 (Zenit-6) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 29 April 1981 Successful
16 April, 11:30 GMT Soyuz-U Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos-1265 (Zenit-6) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 28 April 1981 Successful
18 April MR-UR-100U LC-172, Baikonur RVSN RVSN Sub-orbital Operational test flight 18 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
21 April, 03:45 GMT Tsyklon-2 LC-90, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos-1266 (US-A/RORSAT) MO SSSR LEO Reconnaissance Still in orbit Successful
24 April, 21:32 GMT Titan 34B SLC-4W, Vandenberg AFB US Air Force OPS-7225 (SDS-1) US NRO Molniya Comsat Still in orbit Partial failure
25 April, 02:01 GMT Proton-K LC-200/39, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos-1267 (TKS-2) MOM LEO, docked to Salyut 6 Technology demonstration 29 July 1982 Successful
27 April, 23:15 GMT Aries LC-36, White Sands NASA NASA Sub-orbital Ultraviolet astronomy 27 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 263 kilometres (163 mi)
28 April, 09:00 GMT Soyuz-U Baikonur RVSN Kosmos-1268 (Zenit-6) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 12 May 1981 Successful
30 April, 06:00 GMT Skylark 7 LA-S, Esrange DFVLR TEXUS-3B DFVLR Sub-orbital Microgravity research 30 April 1981 Successful Apogee: 253 kilometres (157 mi)
4 May, 07:55 GMT Black Brant 8C LC-36, White Sands NASA XRB-2 NASA Sub-orbital X-Ray astronomy 4 May 1981 Successful Apogee: 294 kilometres (183 mi)
6 May, 08:00 GMT Black Brant 8C LC-36, White Sands NASA NASA Sub-orbital Aeronomy 6 May 1981 Successful Apogee: 322 kilometres (200 mi)
7 May, 13:21 GMT Kosmos-3M LC-132/1, Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos-1269 (Strela-2M) MO SSSR LEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
8 May, 05:27 GMT Skylark 7 LA-S, Esrange DFVLR TEXUS 4 DFVLR Sub-orbital Microgravity research 8 May 1981 Successful Apogee: 258 kilometres (160 mi)
14 May, 17:16:38 GMT Soyuz-U LC-1/5, Baikonur RVSN Soyuz 40 MOM LEO, docked to Salyut 6 Manned orbital flight 22 May 1981 Successful
14 May, 21:45 GMT Vostok-2M Plesetsk RVSN Meteor-2 MOM LEO Weather satellite Still in orbit Successful
15 May, 06:07:17 GMT Scout G-1 SLC-5, Vandenberg AFB NASA Nova 1 US Navy LEO (Polar) Navigation Still in orbit Successful so far
18 May, 11:50 GMT Soyuz-U LC-31/6, Baikonur RVSN Kosmos-1270 (Yantar-2K) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 17 June 1981 Successful
19 May, 03:49 GMT Vostok-2M Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos-1271 (Tselina-D) MOM LEO ELINT Still in orbit Successful
21 May, 09:10 GMT Soyuz-U Baikonur RVSN Kosmos-1272 (Zenit-6) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 4 June 1981 Successful
22 May, 07:10 GMT Soyuz-U Plesetsk RVSN Kosmos-1273 (Zenit-4MKT) MOM LEO Reconnaissance 4 June 1981 Successful
22 May, 22:29 GMT Delta 3914