A bitcoin node is probably more feasible than sending a single ASIC up in the LEO (Low-Earth Orbit) just to hash and operate at a loss. One area of concern is maintenance. Interference from other objects and the radiation from the sun will surely lessen the life of the machine, rendering it useless in just a couple of months. There's simply no feasible defense in sending a miner on the outer space. Just imagine its components be removed due to high-speed orbit, or causing the miner to fall from whatever vessel it is, amonh many other reasons.