The manual contains instructions on how the crew should respond in various situations, both during regular operation and in emergencies. It provides information on the technical operation of the spacecraft, the specifications and use of the equipment and other information related to the organization of work on board the International Space Station. The on-board documentation used by cosmonauts includes the instruction manual specifying the steps to be taken by the crew in relation to the operation of the spacecraft, the organization of communications, the conduct of experiments and the monitoring of compliance with all medical and technical requirements.

There is also an on-board log-book to make entries in relation to the completion of the flight program, the operational state of the apparatus and equipment, the body of the ship itself, and the results of experiments, as well as reference and other additional documents. The on-board documentation currently includes about 30 books, each 3 centimeters thick, which are regularly amended. The cosmonaut’s instructions may be along the lines of - carry out the three steps on p. 5 of Book 1, go to Book 8 and carry out 4 procedures, then go back to Book 1.

During the development of the flight plans before take-off, the operating documentation undergoes continuous amendment. The final version of the operating documentation sets out all the steps to be taken by the crew, and must be strictly and expressly complied with. The cosmonauts also work out a schedule for the performance of the spacecraft’s operation regimes specified in the documentation, and for the monitoring of equipment both on board the ship and on the ground, and work out how much time needs to be spent on the management of the mission both on the ground and in orbit. During their ground-based training, the crew of the spacecraft and the ground staff responsible for managing the flight develop the skills required to operate the ship.

The on-board manuals are an essential resource, which enable the cosmonauts to perform the planned operations on the spacecraft and in the space station. On the International Space Station the on-board manuals are kept in the side panels, which function as a bookshelf.