1981 in spaceflight

1981 in spaceflight
The launch of STS-1, the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle
Orbital launches
First6 January
Last23 December
Total126
Successes119
Failures6
Partial failures1
Catalogued123
National firsts
Satellite Bulgaria
Space traveller Mongolia
 Romania
Rockets
Maiden flightsN-II
Space Shuttle Columbia
RetirementsFeng Bao 1
Crewed flights
Orbital5
Total travellers10

The following is an outline of 1981 in spaceflight.