A Michigan flag that flew to the moon and back on board Apollo 15 in 1971 sold for $2,150 at the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's spring auction last week.

Command module pilot Al Worden, a native Michigander, inscribed the framed 12 by eight inch flag: "Flown on Apollo 15 - Al Worden CMP."

All three crewmembers, Dave Scott, Jim Irwin and Worden, are alumni of the University of Michigan.

The flag bears the state's Latin motto: "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice", or: "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around".

Michigan: a pleasant peninsula

"It was an honour to represent the great state of Michigan when I became one of only 24 men to fly to the moon," Worden explained.

"It continues to be an honour to show my Michigan pride and support such a worthy cause at the same time."

Apollo 15 was the fourth mission to land on the moon and is a regular hunting ground for space investors.

The top lot at the sale was a schematic page from the collection of Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke. It achieved $7,051.