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What year Astro? It sounds like one of your ignition coils went out.

Thanks, Downix. You are probably right but my equipment (oscilloscope) is buried deeply in a storage rental room. I had a friend with an SAE diploma work on it but he apparently got the degree before 1988 (pre ecu). Then took it to a commercial garage and they said it was the Body Control Unit in lockdown "and something else" (their words). Later they told me the fuel pump was bad but it had already been replaced twice (darn Advance Auto pumps) so on the third one now. They said it is now getting it's battery charged and I can get it Monday so I may be in the Fort Myers area this week.
But, a coil is a less costly fix so maybe that is what it was.

If the fuel pump goes out again, get an in-line unit instead of the in-tank. Those in-tank units inevitably fail, hate them with a passion. The in-lines are a bit more expensive for the part, but much less work to install. This is the unit I used on my Mountaineer when it went onto its third fuel pump in as many years, served me well since:

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/walbro-gsl392-255lph-fuel-pump-p-312.html

From my experience, I wonder how far down you're running the tank between fill ups.
Once the pump body is above fuel level it runs hotter, as a matter of fact there's a documented failure with Chevy C and K series melting the connector at the top of the fuel tree due to the increase in draw from an overheated pump.
It may apply to your Astro as well. .. I'd bet the fuel tree is darn similiar.

_________________
"There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ..." Randall Garrett

Downix, thanks for the information. Sorry that I forgot to mention that it is a 2002 Astro.
And your pump costs 1/2 as much as the in-tank pump.

Oldejack, thanks for the information on the in-tank pump problem. I certainly do not want to drive a van with molten metal on the gas tank. Somehow, burning to death sounds less fun than drowning while hanging on to a speared 1000 pound tuna (freediver here).

Guess it is time to trade up.