The escape velocity from the sun is 42.1 km/s, while the earth is orbiting at 29.78 km/s. The 29.78 km/s is 3 times closer to the escape velocity than to 0 km/s

The escape velocity from the sun is 42.1 km/s, while the earth is orbiting at 29.78 km/s. The 29.78 km/s is 3 times closer to the escape velocity than to 0 km/s. This is the first order approximation reason.