Nudging Nyame — Robert Wright

A near collision in space with a passing interstellar body changes an asteroid's orbit that will take it to possible Earth impact in less than a decade! Spacefaring nations urgently unite and decide, design, and deploy the means of deflection. Nuclear-thermal-rocket thrusters are landed on the asteroid, to change its trajectory, to nudge Nyame. A U.S. intelligence operative leads a small clandestine cell intent on changing the order of the world, and takes advantage of this opportunity. They ingeniously hack the deep-space radio-linked control of the deflection system. In their hands, the asteroid becomes a city-killing weapon of mass destruction. Regional panic follows, suspicions rise, cooperation thins. A brilliant Black astrophysicist attempts to thwart their plans with a 9-millimeter Glock. She fails. A Russian shakedown changes the threat in the final days to Earth impact.