Being one of the first Space Colonists is not going to be such an easy deal. It will take a group of people who really are into it and have complete control of their minds to stay tough with the dedication it will take to pull it off for a life long mission of that type. How will we know that those we invest in have the right stuff? One interesting Sci Fi book on this goes into some of the possibilities of a Mars Colony and the psychological issues, which arise. You may wish to read this book; Return to Mars by Ben Bova.

NASA has considered underwater colonies under the ocean to test the psyche of astronauts, perhaps for a couple of years. There was a group that was put into the Columbia University BiosSphere II for three years and they almost lasted 2-years, before the group dynamics, an injury and issues with the interior CO2 issues all ended up destroying that project. Now in the Australian Outback they are planning a 36-meter long space station simulation including a mobile explorer rover, laboratory, exercise-medical room, seven bedrooms and a cockpit area. This project will cost $1,500,000.00 and be called the Mars OZ research station. All these are decent attempts and ideas of what we must be thinking when practicing our space colony missions.

I propose a different type of colony in the artic ice cap on Earth to practice for an ice house colony on Mars, which would be nearly identical.

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=fb34d2572f5af01af38497d7b2f98fe6&showtopic=1097

We practice shooting them into orbit here, allowing them to re-enter the atmosphere and landing on the Ice Cap, usig the tools on the craft to dig into the ice, build a habitat with what has been given and then living there without help for 3.5 years and study them, via remote video. If they freeze or die, leave them there until the duration of the mission. This way we will know if we can handle the possible national tragedy if they do not make it and know if humans can live in such close proximity, build their habitat and live in using only what they bring? Think on this.