Home 1981 Spacecrafts
1980 Summary 1982 Summary
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Table of the 160 Spacecrafts Launched in 1981
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# Spacecraft Sponsor Launch date Mission type Categories
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1) Kosmos 1237 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Jan 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
2) Molniya 3-14 Soviet Union 9 Jan 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
3) Kosmos 1238 / Vektor Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Jan 81 M Radar Calibration USSR,
4) Kosmos 1239 / Zenit-4MT (Orion) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Jan 81 M Photo Surveillance
(Also performed mapping, geodesy)		 USSR,
5) Kosmos 1240 / Yantar-2K 975 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jan 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
6) Kosmos 1241 / Lira Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Jan 81 M Antisatellite Test
(ASAT target)		 USSR,
7) Kosmos / Geo-IK 1 Soviet Union 23 Jan 81 C Earth/Space Science
(Geodesy)		 USSR, Fail,
8) Progress 12 Soviet Union
(RSC Energiya)		 24 Jan 81 C Cargo Spaceship USSR,
9) Kosmos 1242 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Jan 81 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
10) Molniya 1-49 Soviet Union 30 Jan 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
11) Kosmos 1243 / IS Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Feb 81 M Antisatellite Test
(Failed to destroy Kosmos 1241)		 USSR, Fail,
12) Intercosmos 21 Soviet Union +
East Europe countries		 6 Feb 81 C Earth/Space Science
(Oceanographic, terrestrial studies)		 USSR,
13) ETS 4 / Kiku-3 Japan (NASDA) 11 Feb 81 C Technology
(Satellite R&D)		 Japan,
14) Kosmos 1244 / Parus Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 12 Feb 81 M Navigation USSR,
15) Kosmos 1245 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 13 Feb 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
16) Kosmos 1246 / Yantar-1KFT 1  Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Feb 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
17) Kosmos 1247 / Oko Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Feb 81 M Missile Early Warning USSR,
18) ASTRO-A / Hinoturi Japan (ISAS) 21 Feb 81 C Astronomy Japan,
19) Comstar 4 Comsat Co. 21 Feb 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
20) Titan Samos 51 / KH-8 51 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 28 Feb 81 M Photo Surveillance USA,
21) Kosmos 1248 / Yantar-2K 940 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 Mar 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
22) Kosmos 1249 / US-A Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 Mar 81 M Ocean Surveillance USSR,
23) Kosmos 1250 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
24) Kosmos 1251 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
25) Kosmos 1252 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
26) Kosmos 1253 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
27) Kosmos 1254 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
28) Kosmos 1255 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
29) Kosmos 1256 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
30) Kosmos 1257 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
31) Soyuz T-4 Soviet Union
(RSC Energiya)		 12 Mar 81 C Piloted Spaceship USSR,
32) Kosmos 1258 / IS Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 14 Mar 81 M Antisatellite Test
(Failed to intercept Kosmos 1241)		 USSR, Fail,
33) IMEWS 11 / DSP F10 U.S. Air Force 16 Mar 81 M Missile Early Warning USA, Geo,
34) Kosmos 1259 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 Mar 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
35) Raduga 8 Soviet Union 18 Mar 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR, Geo,
36) Kosmos 1260 / US-P Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Mar 81 M Ocean Surveillance USSR,
37) Soyuz 39 Soviet Union
(RSC Energiya)		 22 Mar 81 C Piloted Spaceship USSR,
38) Molniya 3-15 Soviet Union 24 Mar 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
39) Kosmos / Yantar-2K 979  Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Mar 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR, Fail,
40) Kosmos 1261 / Oko Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 31 Mar 81 M Missile Early Warning USSR,
41) Kosmos 1262 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 7 Apr 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
42) Kosmos 1263 / Vektor Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 9 Apr 81 M Radar Calibration USSR,
43) STS-1 / OFT-1 NASA 12 Apr 81 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
44) Kosmos 1264 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Apr 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
45) Kosmos 1265 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Apr 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
46) Kosmos 1266 / US-A Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Apr 81 M Ocean Surveillance USSR,
47) SDS 7 / Jumpseat 6 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 24 Apr 81 M Electronic Intelligence USA, Fail,
48) Kosmos 1267 (TKS)  Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Apr 81 M Piloted Spaceship Test
(Test of space station ferry capsule)		 USSR,
49) Kosmos 1268 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Apr 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
50) Kosmos 1269 / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 7 May 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
51) Soyuz 40 Soviet Union
(RSC Energiya)		 14 May 81 C Piloted Spaceship USSR,
52) Meteor 2-7 Soviet Union 14 May 81 C Meteorology USSR,
53) NOVA 1 U.S. Navy 15 May 81 M Navigation USA,
54) Kosmos 1270 / Yantar-2K 942 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 May 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
55) Kosmos 1271 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 May 81 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
56) Kosmos 1272 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 May 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
57) Kosmos 1273 / Zenit-4MKT (Fram) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 22 May 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
58) GOES 5 NASA 22 May 81 C Meteorology USA, Geo,
59) Intelsat 501 Intelsat 23 May 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
60) Rohini 2 India (ISRO) 31 May 81 C Technology India, Fail,
61) Kosmos 1274 / Yantar-2K 942 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Jun 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
62) Kosmos 1275 / Parus Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Jun 81 M Navigation USSR,
63) Molniya 3-16 Soviet Union 9 Jun 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
64) Kosmos 1276 / Zenit-4MKT (Fram) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Jun 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
65) Kosmos 1277 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 Jun 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR, 
66) CAT ESA 19 Jun 81 C Technology
(Launch vehicle test)		 Europe,
67) Meteosat 2 ESA 19 Jun 81 C Meteorology Europe, Geo,
68) Apple (Insat 1) India (ISRO) 19 Jun 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 India, Geo,
69) Kosmos 1278 / Oko Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Jun 81 M Missile Early Warning USSR,
70) NOAA 7 NOAA 23 Jun 81 C Meteorology USA,
71) Molniya 1-50 Soviet Union 24 Jun 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
72) Ekran 7 Soviet Union 25 Jun 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR, Geo,
73) Kosmos 1279 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Jul 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
74) Kosmos 1280 / Resurs-F1 15 Soviet Union 2 Jul 81 C Earth Remote Sensing USSR,
75) Kosmos 1281 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 7 Jul 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
76) Meteor Priroda 2-4 Soviet Union 16 Jul 81 C Meteorology USSR,
77) Iskra Soviet Union 10 Jul 81 C Material Processing USSR,
78) Kosmos 1282 / Yantar-2K 951 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Jul 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
79) Kosmos 1283 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 Jul 81 M Photo Surveillance
(Also performed Earth resources tasks)		 USSR,
80) Kosmos 1284 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 29 Jul 81 M Photo Surveillance
(Also performed Earth resources tasks)		 USSR,
81) Raduga 9 Soviet Union 30 Jul 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR, Geo,
82) DE-1 / Dynamic Explorer 1 NASA 3 Aug 81 C Earth/Space Science USA, Fail,
83) DE-2 / Dynamic Explorer 2 NASA 3 Aug 81 C Earth/Space Science USA, Fail,
84) Kosmos 1285 / Oko Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Aug 81 M Missile Early Warning USSR,
85) Kosmos 1286 / US-P Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Aug 81 M Ocean Surveillance USSR,
86) Fleetsatcom 5 U.S. Navy 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Military services)		 USA, Geo, Fail?,
87) Kosmos 1287 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
88) Kosmos 1288 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
89) Kosmos 1289 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
90) Kosmos 1290 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
91) Kosmos 1291 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
92) Kosmos 1292 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
83) Kosmos 1293 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
94) Kosmos 1294 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
95) Interkosmos- Bulgaria 1300 Soviet Union +
East Europe countries		 7 Aug 81 C Earth/Space Science
(Ionosphere and magnetosphere studies)		 USSR,
96) GMS 2 / Himawari 2 Japan (NASDA) 10 Aug 81 C Meteorology Japan, Geo,
97) Kosmos 1295 / Parus Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 12 Aug 81 M Navigation USSR,
98) Kosmos 1296 / Yantar-2K 943 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 13 Aug 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
99) Kosmos 1297 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Aug 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
100) Kosmos 1298 / Yantar-4K2 1 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Aug 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
101) Kosmos 1299 / US-A Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 24 Aug 81 M Ocean Surveillance USSR,
102) Kosmos 1300 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 24 Aug 81 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
103) Kosmos 1301 / Resurs-F1 16 Soviet Union 27 Aug 81 C Earth Remote Sensing USSR,
104) Kosmos 1302 / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Aug 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
105) KH-11-4 KENNAN U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 3 Sep 81 M Photo Surveillance USA,
106) Kosmos 1303 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Sep 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
107) Kosmos 1304 / Tsikada Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Sep 81 M Navigation USSR,
108) Kosmos 1305 (Molniya-3) Soviet Union 11 Sep 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR, Fail,
109) Kosmos 1306 / US-P Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 14 Sep 81 M Ocean Surveillanc USSR,
110) Kosmos 1307 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Sep 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
111) Kosmos 1308 / Parus Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Sep 81 M Navigation USSR,
112) Kosmos 1309 / Zenit-4MT (Orion) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Sep 81 M Photo Surveillance
(Also performed mapping, geodesy)		 USSR,
113) SJ-2 ("Chinasat 9") China 19 Sep 81 C Earth/Space Science China,
114) SJ-2A ("Chinasat 10") China 19 Sep 81 C Earth/Space Science China,
115) SJ-2B ("Chinasat 11") China 19 Sep 81 C Earth/Space Science China,
116) Oreol 3 (Aureole 3) France-USSR 21 Sep 81 C Earth/Space Science
(Carried Soviet/French magnetosphere and ionosphere experiments)		 Europe,
117) Kosmos 1310 / Vektor Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 23 Sep 81 M Radar Calibration USSR,
118) SBS 2 SBS 24 Sep 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
119) Kosmos 1311 / Romb Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Sep 81 M Radar Calibration USSR,
120) Kosmos 1312 / Geo-IK 2 Soviet Union 30 Sep 81 C Earth/Space Science
(Geodesy)		 USSR,
121) Kosmos 1313 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Oct 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
122) SME / Solar Mesosphere Explorer NASA 6 Oct 81 C Earth/Space Science
(Solar observatory)		 USA,
123) UoSAT 1 / UoSAT-Oscar 9 UoSAT 6 Oct 81 C Radio-Amateur Amateur,
124) Kosmos 1314 / Zenit-4MKT (Fram) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 9 Oct 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
125) Raduga 10 Soviet Union 9 Oct 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR, Geo,
126) Kosmos 1315 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 13 Oct 81 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
127) Kosmos 1316 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Oct 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
128) Molniya 3-17 Soviet Union 17 Oct 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
129) Venera 13 Soviet Union 30 Oct 81 C Planetary Exploration
(Venus)		 USSR,
130) IMEWS 12 / Chalet 3 U.S. Air Force 31 Oct 81 M Missile Early Warning
(or Electronic Intelligence?)		 USA, Geo,
131) Kosmos 1317 / Oko Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 31 Oct 81 M Missile Early Warning USSR,
132) Kosmos 1318 / Yantar-2K 944 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Nov 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
133) Venera 14 Soviet Union 4 Nov 81 C Planetary Exploration
(Venus)		 USSR,
134) STS-2 / OFT-2 NASA 12 Nov 81 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
135) Kosmos 1319 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 13 Nov 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
136) Molniya 1-51 Soviet Union 17 Nov 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
137) RCA Satcom 3R RCA Comm 20 Nov 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
138) Bhaskara 2 India (ISRO) 26 Nov 81 C Earth/Space Science
(Experimental Earth observations)		 India,
139) Kosmos 1320 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
140) Kosmos 1321 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
141) Kosmos 1322 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
142) Kosmos 1323 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
143) Kosmos 1324 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
144) Kosmos 1325 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
145) Kosmos 1326 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
146) Kosmos 1327 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 81 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
147) Kosmos 1328 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Dec 81 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
148) Kosmos 1329 / Zenit-6 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Dec 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
149) Intelsat 5-F3 Intelsat 15 Dec 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
150) Radio 3 (RS-3) Soviet Union 17 Dec 81 C Radio-Amateur USSR,
151) Radio 4 (RS-4) Soviet Union 17 Dec 81 C Radio-Amateur USSR,
152) Radio 5 (RS-5) Soviet Union 17 Dec 81 C Radio-Amateur USSR,
153) Radio 6 (RS-6) Soviet Union 17 Dec 81 C Radio-Amateur USSR,
154) Radio 7 (RS-7) Soviet Union 17 Dec 81 C Radio-Amateur USSR,
155) Radio 8 (RS-8) Soviet Union 17 Dec 81 C Radio-Amateur USSR,
156) Navstar 7 U.S. Department
of Defense		 19 Dec 81 M Navigation USA, Fail,
157) Kosmos 1330 / Yantar-2K 952 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 81 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
158) CAT ESA 20 Dec 81 C Technology
(Launch vehicle test)		 Europe,
159) Marecs A ESA 20 Dec 81 C Communications
(Maritime services)		 Europe, Geo,
160) Molniya 1-52 Soviet Union 23 Dec 81 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
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1980 Summary All Summaries 1982 Summary
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© Claude Lafleur, 2004-2008
The Spacecraft Encyclopedia Espace 101 L'Envers de l'actualité' Les Dossiers Espace La Librairie virtuelle

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