I know the NASA shuttle program has been canceled but if probably will eventually be revived to answer this question according to the standards that NASA has had please. I'm also willing to go JAXA too.

I would very much like to go into space on a shuttle, but I'm 100% certain I want to be a doctor (pediatric surgeon). I know you can go up to the international as a "walker" rather than a pilot or playing engineer type roles. In theory I know NASA selects anyone (I know specifically of one guy who was a walker on an US Endeavor launch who was actually a veterinarian), but what would I actually have to do to become an astronaut? What are the different roles (if any) that I could play as a doctor?

Just basically how to become an astronaut and NASA's/JAXA's selection I guess.

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