Do you have the ability to auto-save on 3rd Birthday (PSP)?

While playing the third installment of Parasite Eve, I found the map layouts to be rather extensive. Saving the game is only effective when working on the main control room computer. In the levels, there appears to be no checkpoints... so quitting half-way, would cause you to start from the very beginning. Are there checkpoints or any way to save within a long level?