from the link I posted above.
Beyond the actual space combat which basically feels like your ship is just your avatar (WASD) control/mouse. "Warp" travel is accomplished on the sector map, which is really just a overlay on the space map/area as you can see above. Systems, encounters, missions are on the map and you fly to them...just like combat, once your close enough you push the use key to enter the system.
You can also use an auto-pilot, which is the same thing...just hands-free. Click location in the map and engage...
basically all the sector space map does is add 2 loading screens to travel... (one on the front end and one when you arrive...)
The game also has the tendency to display your ground avatar in place of your space and vice-versa making movement difficult/not possible for several seconds to minutes while the game figures its shit out...
I havnt tried going to a system without a mission, might be a 2-3 unknown signals from my scanner I can check out but otherwise I don't think there are random spawns... eventually there will be an exploration system (at launch...so they say) but it has not been part of the open-beta, and im not sure if it was in during closed...
