While Space Alert offers a fabulous 4-5 player experience, the box advertises 1-5 players. Like many players, I felt the 1-3 player experience felt like tacked on, where each player just plays the role of 2 or more people.
To rectify this situation, I made a new board designed for a 1-3 player experience (similar to the idea of using a different board for smaller games in Small World). I dubbed the ship Little Duckling. Simply print and mount the board (on the back of the Sitting Duck if you really like it).
The rules (with examples and clear diagrams) and a complete set of missions (from tutorials through simulations to missions) are included in the Little Duckling handbook.
This has been play tested and I hope produces a balanced and fun 1-3 player experience for you as well.
Released in the File Section of Space Alert, this expansion has had its graphics updated by paulmond.