The persistence will only respawn you back at the last place you woke up in...ship, if you logged out on a bed in your ship...if you died, last place you docked with a medical facility.
Unfortunately, if the game crashes you spawn back where you started or your last save point. With the way they ran the 'mission' in the demo...they needed all 3 since the Aquila still was under player 3's (John's) authority. He obviously hadn't handed authority to the other 2...although if his game hadn't crashed, they would have been able to assume control.
The same happens in the current baby PU...pilot's game crashes out, ship can't be piloted by anyone else in the crew...means they all need to respawn and replay the mission.
So there's no autosave when you get in your ship or to a station? Are you kidding me? This is a joke, SC is a huge joke.