The unpressurized compartment contained propulsion system components, EVA handrails, and scientific equipment.

After reaching orbit, an electrical connector failure caused the amount of power available on Priroda to be cut in half.

After being moved to its permanent location at the +Z docking port on the base block, Priroda was connected to the rest of the station's electrical system, which allowed it to run off power from solar arrays on other modules.

The crew on board then removed the batteries from Priroda and stored them in Progress M-31 for a destructive re-entry.

During the last expedition to Mir in 2000, power loads were reportedly so high that the crew was not able to activate any of Priroda's payloads.