It doesn't really "shooot down" the missiles. Even though it's a very powerful laser, all it does is warm up a spot on the side of the rocket motor, weakening it, and it blows itself up from the internal pressure, somewhat like the Challenger. A spacecraft would just shrug it off - the craft gets more energy from the sun than from the laser, and they seem to have no problem dissipating that.
Cheers! Rich
They're spending my money on this comic-book stuff, and you're getting the paycheck, Grise. I'm disappointed in you! [Insert emoticon of your choice here]
In article , Rich Grise wrote: [... laser ...]
The same can apply for shooting down an aircraft. If you make a weak spot in the right place, or small set of spaces, the aircraft will come down.
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