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Orbital Launches of 1981

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ID Date Payload(s) Launch Vehicle Site Remark
January
1981-001 06.01.1981 Kosmos 1237 (Zenit-6U #32, Argon #32) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-002 09.01.1981 Molniya-3 25L Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-41/1
1981-003 16.01.1981 Kosmos 1238 (Taifun-1 #12, Vektor #12) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
1981-004 16.01.1981 Kosmos 1239 (Zenit-4MT #20, Orion #20) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-005 20.01.1981 Kosmos 1240 (Yantar-2K #15, Feniks #15) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-006 21.01.1981 Kosmos 1241 (DS-P1-M #15, Tyulpan #15, Lira #15) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
1981-F01 23.01.1981 Kosmos (1242) (Geo-IK #1, Musson #1) Tsiklon-3 Pl LC-32/1 Failure
1981-007 24.01.1981 Progress 12 Soyuz-U Ba LC-1/5
1981-008 27.01.1981 Kosmos 1242 (Tselina-D #28) Vostok-2M Pl LC-43/3
1981-009 30.01.1981 Molniya-1K 49 (Molniya-1K 59L) Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-43/3
February
1981-010 02.02.1981 Kosmos 1243 (IS-A #11) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-011 06.02.1981 Interkosmos 21 (AUOS-Z-R-P-IK #2) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
1981-012 11.02.1981 ETS 4 (Kiku 3) N-2 Star-37N Ta LP-N
1981-013 12.02.1981 Kosmos 1244 (Parus #26) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
1981-014 13.02.1981 Kosmos 1245 (Zenit-6U #33, Argon #33) Soyuz-U Pl LC-43/3
1981-015 18.02.1981 Kosmos 1246 (Yantar-1KFT #1, Kometa #1) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-016 19.02.1981 Kosmos 1247 (US-K #19) Molniya-M (Blok-2BL) Pl LC-16/2
1981-017 21.02.1981 Astro A (Hinotori) M-3S Ka LP-M
1981-018 21.02.1981 Comstar 1D Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1AR CC LC-36A
1981-019 28.02.1981 KH-8 51 (Gambit-3 51, Mission 4351, OPS 1166) Titan-3(24)B Agena-D Va SLC-4W
March
1981-020 05.03.1981 Kosmos 1248 (Yantar-2K #16, Feniks #16) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-021 05.03.1981 Kosmos 1249 (US-A #17) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-022 06.03.1981 Kosmos 1250 (Strela-1M #209)
Kosmos 1251 (Strela-1M #210)
Kosmos 1252 (Strela-1M #211)
Kosmos 1253 (Strela-1M #212)
Kosmos 1254 (Strela-1M #213)
Kosmos 1255 (Strela-1M #214)
Kosmos 1256 (Strela-1M #215)
Kosmos 1257 (Strela-1M #216)
Kosmos 1250, ..., 1257 (Strela-1M #209, ..., #216)
Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
1981-023 12.03.1981 Soyuz-T 4 Soyuz-U Ba LC-1/5
1981-024 14.03.1981 Kosmos 1258 (IS-A #12) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-025 16.03.1981 DSP 9 (OPS 7350) Titan-3(23)C CC LC-40
1981-026 17.03.1981 Kosmos 1259 (Zenit-6U #34, Argon #34) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-027 18.03.1981 Raduga 8 (Gran 18L) Proton-K Blok-DM Ba LC-200/40
1981-028 20.03.1981 Kosmos 1260 (US-P #10) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-029 22.03.1981 Soyuz 39 Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-030 24.03.1981 Molniya-3 24L Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-41/1
1981-F02 28.03.1981 Kosmos (1261) (Yantar-2K #17, Feniks #17) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6 Failure
1981-031 31.03.1981 Kosmos 1261 (US-K #20) Molniya-M (Blok-2BL) Pl LC-41/1
April
1981-032 07.04.1981 Kosmos 1262 (Zenit-6U #35, Argon #35) Soyuz-U Pl LC-43/3
1981-033 09.04.1981 Kosmos 1263 (Taifun-1 #13, Vektor #13) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
1981-034 12.04.1981 Columbia F1 (STS-1) Shuttle CCK LC-39A
1981-035 15.04.1981 Kosmos 1264 (Zenit-6U #36, Argon #36) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-036 16.04.1981 Kosmos 1265 (Zenit-6U #37, Argon #37) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-037 21.04.1981 Kosmos 1266 (US-A #18) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-038 24.04.1981 Jumpseat 6 (OPS 7225) Titan-3(34)B Agena-D Va SLC-4W Partial Failure
1981-039 25.04.1981 Kosmos 1267 (TKS #2) Proton-K Ba LC-200/39
1981-040 28.04.1981 Kosmos 1268 (Zenit-6U #38, Argon #38) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
May
1981-041 07.05.1981 Kosmos 1269 (Strela-2M #24) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
1981-042 14.05.1981 Soyuz 40 Soyuz-U Ba LC-1/5
1981-043 14.05.1981 Meteor-2 7 Vostok-2M Pl LC-43/3
1981-044 15.05.1981 Nova 1 Scout-G1 Va SLC-5
1981-045 18.05.1981 Kosmos 1270 (Yantar-2K #18, Feniks #18) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-046 19.05.1981 Kosmos 1271 (Tselina-D #29) Vostok-2M Pl LC-43/3
1981-047 21.05.1981 Kosmos 1272 (Zenit-6U #39, Argon #39) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-048 22.05.1981 Kosmos 1273 (Zenit-4MKT #17, Fram #17) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-049 22.05.1981 GOES 5 (GOES E) Delta-3914 CC LC-17A
1981-050 23.05.1981 Intelsat-5 1 Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1AR CC LC-36B
1981-051 31.05.1981 RS D1 (Rohini 2) SLV-3 Sr Partial Failure
June
1981-052 03.06.1981 Kosmos 1274 (Yantar-2K #19, Feniks #19) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-053 04.06.1981 Kosmos 1275 (Parus #27) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
1981-054 09.06.1981 Molniya-3 30L Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-41/1
1981-055 16.06.1981 Kosmos 1276 (Zenit-4MKT #18, Fram #18) Soyuz-U Pl LC-43/3
1981-056 17.06.1981 Kosmos 1277 (Zenit-6U #40, Argon #40) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-057 19.06.1981 Meteosat 2
Apple
CAT 3
Ariane-1 Ko ELA-1
1981-058 19.06.1981 Kosmos 1278 (US-K #21) Molniya-M (Blok-2BL) Pl LC-43/3
1981-059 23.06.1981 NOAA 7 (C) Atlas-F Star-37S-ISS Va SLC-3W
1981-060 24.06.1981 Molniya-1K 50 (Molniya-1K 61L) Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-43/3
1981-061 25.06.1981 Ekran 7 (Ekran 21L) Proton-K Blok-DM Ba LC-200/40
July
1981-062 01.07.1981 Kosmos 1279 (Zenit-6U #41, Argon #41) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-063 02.07.1981 Kosmos 1280 (Resurs-F1 (17F41) #5) Soyuz-U Pl LC-43/3
1981-064 07.07.1981 Kosmos 1281 (Zenit-6U #42, Argon #42) Soyuz-U Pl LC-43/3
1981-065 10.07.1981 Meteor-Priroda 2-4 (Meteor-1 31)
Iskra 1
Vostok-2M Ba LC-31/6
1981-066 15.07.1981 Kosmos 1282 (Yantar-2K #20, Feniks #20) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-067 17.07.1981 Kosmos 1283 (Zenit-6U #43, Argon #43) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-068 29.07.1981 Kosmos 1284 (Zenit-6U #44, Argon #44) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-069 30.07.1981 Raduga 9 (Gran 19L) Proton-K Blok-DM Ba LC-200/39
August
1981-070 03.08.1981 DE 1 (Explorer 62)
DE 2 (Explorer 63)
Delta-3913 Va SLC-2W Partial Failure
1981-071 04.08.1981 Kosmos 1285 (US-K #22) Molniya-M (Blok-2BL) Pl LC-16/2
1981-072 04.08.1981 Kosmos 1286 (US-P #11) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-073 06.08.1981 FLTSATCOM 5 Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1AR CC LC-36A Partial Failure
1981-074 06.08.1981 Kosmos 1287 (Strela-1M #217)
Kosmos 1288 (Strela-1M #218)
Kosmos 1289 (Strela-1M #219)
Kosmos 1290 (Strela-1M #220)
Kosmos 1291 (Strela-1M #221)
Kosmos 1292 (Strela-1M #222)
Kosmos 1293 (Strela-1M #223)
Kosmos 1294 (Strela-1M #224)
Kosmos 1287, ..., 1294 (Strela-1M #217, ..., #224)
Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
1981-075 07.08.1981 Interkosmos 22 (Bulgaria 1300) Vostok-2M Pl LC-43/3
1981-076 10.08.1981 GMS 2 (Himawari 2) N-2 Star-37N Ta LP-N
1981-077 12.08.1981 Kosmos 1295 (Parus #28) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
1981-078 13.08.1981 Kosmos 1296 (Yantar-2K #21, Feniks #21) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-079 18.08.1981 Kosmos 1297 (Zenit-6U #45, Argon #45) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-080 21.08.1981 Kosmos 1298 (Yantar-4K2 #1, Kobalt #1) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-081 24.08.1981 Kosmos 1299 (US-A #19) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-082 24.08.1981 Kosmos 1300 (Tselina-D #30) Tsiklon-3 Pl LC-32/1
1981-083 27.08.1981 Kosmos 1301 (Resurs-F1 (17F41) #6) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-084 28.08.1981 Kosmos 1302 (Strela-2M #25) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
September
1981-085 03.09.1981 KH-11 4 (Kennen 4, Crystal 4, OPS 3984) Titan-3D Va SLC-4E
1981-086 04.09.1981 Kosmos 1303 (Zenit-6U #46, Argon #46) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-087 04.09.1981 Kosmos 1304 (Tsikada #8) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1
1981-088 11.09.1981 Kosmos 1305 (Molniya-3 28L) Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-43/3 Partial Failure
1981-089 14.09.1981 Kosmos 1306 (US-P #12) Tsiklon-2 Ba LC-90
1981-090 15.09.1981 Kosmos 1307 (Zenit-6U #47, Argon #47) Soyuz-U Pl LC-43/3
1981-091 18.09.1981 Kosmos 1308 (Parus #29) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/1 Partial Failure
1981-092 18.09.1981 Kosmos 1309 (Zenit-4MT #21, Orion #21) Soyuz-U Pl LC-43/3
1981-093 19.09.1981 SJ 2 (China 9)
SJ 2A (China 10)
SJ 2B (China 11)
FB-1 Jq LC-2/138
1981-094 21.09.1981 Aureole 3 (Oreol 3, AUOS-Z-M-A-IK #1, ARCAD 3) Tsiklon-3 Pl LC-32/1
1981-095 23.09.1981 Kosmos 1310 (Taifun-1 #14, Vektor #14) Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
1981-096 24.09.1981 SBS 2 Delta-3910 PAM-D CC LC-17A
1981-097 28.09.1981 Kosmos 1311 (Taifun-2 #9) / 24 Romb Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
1981-098 30.09.1981 Kosmos 1312 (Geo-IK #2, Musson #2) Tsiklon-3 Pl LC-32/1
October
1981-099 01.10.1981 Kosmos 1313 (Zenit-6U #48, Argon #48) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-100 06.10.1981 SME (Explorer 64)
UoSat 1 (OSCAR 9, UO 9)
Delta-2310 Va SLC-2W
1981-101 09.10.1981 Kosmos 1314 (Zenit-4MKT #19, Fram #19) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-102 09.10.1981 Raduga 10 (Gran 20L) Proton-K Blok-DM Ba LC-200/39
1981-103 13.10.1981 Kosmos 1315 (Tselina-D #31) Vostok-2M Pl LC-43/3
1981-104 15.10.1981 Kosmos 1316 (Zenit-6U #49, Argon #49) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-105 17.10.1981 Molniya-3 31L Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-41/1
1981-106 30.10.1981 Venera 13 (4V1M #1) Proton-K Blok-D-1 Ba LC-200/40
1981-107 31.10.1981 Vortex 10 → Mercury 10 (OPS 4029) Titan-3(23)C CC LC-40
1981-108 31.10.1981 Kosmos 1317 (US-K #23) Molniya-M (Blok-2BL) Pl LC-16/2
November
1981-109 03.11.1981 Kosmos 1318 (Yantar-2K #22, Feniks #22) Soyuz-U Pl LC-41/1
1981-110 04.11.1981 Venera 14 (4V1M #2) Proton-K Blok-D-1 Ba LC-200/39
1981-111 12.11.1981 Columbia F2 (STS-2) Shuttle CCK LC-39A
1981-112 13.11.1981 Kosmos 1319 (Zenit-6U #50, Argon #50) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-113 17.11.1981 Molniya-1K 51 (Molniya-1K 57L) Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Pl LC-41/1
1981-114 20.11.1981 Satcom 3R Delta-3910 PAM-D CC LC-17A
1981-115 20.11.1981 Bhaskara 2 Kosmos-3M KY LC-107/2
1981-116 28.11.1981 Kosmos 1320 (Strela-1M #225)
Kosmos 1321 (Strela-1M #226)
Kosmos 1322 (Strela-1M #227)
Kosmos 1323 (Strela-1M #228)
Kosmos 1324 (Strela-1M #229)
Kosmos 1325 (Strela-1M #220)
Kosmos 1326 (Strela-1M #231)
Kosmos 1327 (Strela-1M #232)
Kosmos 1320, ..., 1327 (Strela-1M #225, ..., #232)
Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
December
1981-117 03.12.1981 Kosmos 1328 (Tselina-D #32) Tsiklon-3 Pl LC-32/1
1981-118 04.12.1981 Kosmos 1329 (Zenit-6U #51, Argon #51) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-119 15.12.1981 Intelsat-5 3 Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1AR CC LC-36B
1981-120 17.12.1981 RS 3
RS 4
RS 5
RS 6
RS 7
RS 8
RS 3, ..., 8
Kosmos-3M Pl LC-132/2
1981-F03 19.12.1981 GPS 7 (GPS SVN 7, Navstar 7) Atlas-E SGS-1 Va SLC-3E Failure
1981-121 19.12.1981 Kosmos 1330 (Yantar-2K #23, Feniks #23) Soyuz-U Ba LC-31/6
1981-122 20.12.1981 MARECS 1
CAT 4
Ariane-1 Ko ELA-1
1981-123 23.12.1981 Molniya-1K 52 (Molniya-1K 55L) Molniya-M (Blok-ML) Ba LC-1/5

Launch sites:

Ba = Baikonur (Tyuratam, NIIP-5, GIK-5), Tyuratam, USSR USSR
CC = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA USA
CCK = NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA USA
Jq = Jiuquan Space Center, Inner Mongolia, China China
Ka = Kagoshima Space Center / Uchinoura Space Center, Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan Japan
Ko = Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), Kourou, French Guiana, France France
KY = Kapustin Yar (GTsP-4, GTsMP-4), Volgograd, USSR USSR
Pl = Plesetsk (NIIP-53, GIK-1, GNIIP), USSR USSR
Sr = Satish Dhawan Space Center (Sriharikota Space Center), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India India
Ta = Tanegashima Space Center, Tanegashima, Japan Japan
Va = Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA USA
1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 195719581959   •   1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979   •   1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
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