The portable electron beam ion trap (EBIT) at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) was commercially purchased from Physics & Technology* in 2008. The first experimental campaign took place at Argonne National Laboratory where the SAO EBIT was paired with the Advanced Photon Source to observe the photoionization of highly charged Kr ions**. A leak in the collector cooling line following the transport back to SAO compromised the vacuum system, requiring total disassembly and detailed cleaning of the device. We report on the progress of the SAO EBIT facility, including design improvements made during the recommissioning process and our recent `first light' measurements made with a broadband solid-state X-ray detector.