Progress M1-5 is carrying 2.5 times more fuel than normal for a resupply mission instead of other cargoes like equipment, food and water. The flight will take twice as long as a conventional cargo mission to Mir. The longer trip is designed to conserve the cargo spacecraft's propellant for the deorbiting procedure, which will require a lot of fuel. Instead of using its fuel-thirsty main engine, the Progress M1-5 will use its smaller engines for approach and orientation. The spacecraft will dock to Mir’s Kvant module. The extra propellant will be used to assist in the deorbiting of the Mir space station in early March. The Progress propulsion system and fuel will be used to lower the station out of its orbit to about 80 km (42 nmi) to make a reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

On March 4 and 5, the Progress is planned to fire three pulses to brake the station. The first two pulses will decrease Mir’s speed by 7 meters per second each, while the third one will decrease the station’s speed by 14 meters per second. On March 6, the Progress will generate the final pulse which should decrease Mir’s speed by 17.3 meters per second and cause it to plunge into the Pacific Ocean later that day. Remains of the station are expected to fall in the Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand.