Colonizing Planets

For years we now we have been going up into space, visiting the Space Station, and coming back down to Earth. But I want to ask how long until we can go up into space and not return. I'm not talking about just going up and dying in space, but taking humans another planet. And even more than that, i wonder when we can start colonizing said planet so that it is fit for survival, able to stand the test of time and support human life for centuries.

For a small amount of time now, private companies have tried getting funds for these projects. Mars One is trying but hundreds of thousands of dollars later there has been no news on the project, all that is known is a plan for 2024, and one would think its because it was a scam. That is the problem with fan-fund raised projects like this, not that Mars one is necessarily a scam just the majority would seem that way. But who knows, it could be just the time needed for preparation.

So even though that some are failures, some are legit. Plans to colonize planets exist now but they do take years of preparation. The shuttle to get there, setting up food and power. All of this work for a trip that could backfire in a week because the oxygen supply was too low. This is why only the best of the best are chosen to go. One would need to be smart and a good problem solver, no or little history of genetic diseases, or any diseases for obvious reasons. But how many people would need to be sent on this one way trip to almost certain death? I think the number of people that would need to be sent is around 16 (as to avoid eventual incest...). So if you meet all of these criteria than you would have a chance if a situation like this came up.

With overpopulation being a big problem in the near future, this could be a really cool solution. Would you go on a one way trip to another planet if offered? I would, just to be a part of something that would make history, even if I died within a month I would still be among the first people to die on a planet other than Earth.